LINCOLN  ROOM 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
LIBRARY 


k     f 


B^^ 


CAUCUSES    OF    1860. 


A  HISTORY 


*^..,^?..,..^^^t  ^..tfif 


CURRENT  PRESIDENTIAL  CAMPAIGN 


COMPLETE  RECORD  OF  THE  BUSINESS  OF  ALL 
THE  CONVENTIONS; 


SKETCHES   OF  DISTINGUISHED  MEN  IN  ATTENDANCE  UPON  THE:VI^ 

AND  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  THE  MOST  CHARACTERISTIC 

SCENES  AND  MEMORABLE  EVENTS. 


Cfizapiled  from  tlie  Correspondence  of  the  Cincinnati  Commercial,  writteck 
"  On  the  Circuit  of  the  Conventions,"  and  the  Official  Beports. 


By    M.   HALSTEAD, 

AH  ETE-VriT-VESS   OF  THEM   All. 


COLUMBUS: 

FOLLETT,    FOSTER    AND    COMPANY, 
1860. 


PREFACE. 


If  I  have  a  prejudice  against  or  partiality  for  any  political  party, 
such  that  I  am  incapable  of  taking  an  impartial  view  of  its  proceedings, 
and  of  telling  the  truth  of  it  irrespective  of  the  antagonisms,  that  de- 
mand concealment  on  the  one  hand  and  perversion  on  the  other,  I  am 
unconscious  of  the  fact. 

I  know  that  in  making  the  "  Circuit  of  the  Conventions,"  in  the 
capacity  of  a  journalist,  I  endeavored  to  pursue  the  path  of  candor ; 
and  that  this  was  not  only  my  personal  feeling  but  the  policy  of  tho 
journal  with  which  I  am  eonneeted. 

In  the  first  letter  of  the  correspondence  from  which  this  publication 
is  largely  made  up,  I  promised  to  remember  in  my  writings  of  the  Con- 
ventions the  entreaty  of  Othello,  concerning  information  to  be  des- 
patched from  Cyprus  to  Venice  : 

"  I  pray  you,  in  your  letters, 
When  you  shall  these  unlucky  deeds  relate, 
*  *  *  Nothing  extenuate, 

Nor  set  down  aught  in  malice  " — 

I  should  consider  the  displeasure  and  hostile  criticisms  of  partisans  of 
all  persuasions  and  organizations,  the  best  testimony  that  I  have  kept 
this  promise.  M.  H. 


.iub-i5 


CONTENTS. 


Page 

The  Charleston  Convention 1 

The  Constitutional  Democratic  Conventiou  at  Charleston 97 

The  Baltimore  National  Constitutional  Union  Convention 104 

The  Chicago  Convention 120 

The  Constitutional  Democratic  Convention  at  Richmond 154 

The  National  Democratic  Convention  at  Baltimore 159 

Institute  Hall  ("  Seceders  ")  Convention 217 

The  Second  Richmond  Convention 2*1 


ERRATA 

Page  9,  first  line,  second  paragraph,  for  "Magnolia  Hall"  read  "Eibernia 
Hall." 

Page  31,  last  line,  read  "  equivocal "  for  "  equivalent^' 

Page  101,  last  line  of  page,  read  "  leonine  "  instead  of  "  canine." 


THE  CHARLESTON  CONVENTION. 


Teie  Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas  wa'fj  ,tfi^'|)i,\;<;Jt  .Indiyidual  of  the 
Charleston  Convention.  Every  d3leg3,te.  yras  top  dr.'aijajBSt'.Jiini.  Ev- 
ery motion  meant  to  nominate  or  *ipt  to/EtopiviSat^,  him.'  'E^ery  parlia- 
mentary war  was ]}ro  or  con  Douglas.    '  •    '.'  ,    'J   ;  ?,"    ;•  • 

On  the  route  to  Charleston,  delegaties'afj^  pthefs?  who/Ai^er©  proceed- 
ing to  attend  the  Convention,  talked  .i^!Dtt'i\t  ."Mr.  >Doviglas! ' '  'tke  ques- 
tions in  every  car  and  at  every  station,  were': '  Wqi\ii','hs^;be  ?  could  he 
be?  should  he  be  nominated  V  Could  he  get  a  majority  of  the  Conven- 
tion ?  could  he  get  two-thirds  ?  Would  the  Sourh  support  him  if  he 
should  be  nominated?  Would  the  Administration  acquiesce  if  he  were 
nominated  ? 

NOTES  BY  THE  WAY. 

[The  following  extract  from  a  letter  written  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  April 
17th,  will  give  an  idea  of  the  spirit  of  Southernei's  when  en  route  for 
the  Convention  :]    , 

Atl-vnta,  Ga.,  April  17th. 
We  had  interesting  political  talk  on  the  cars  this  evening.  Two 
Georgians  were  disputing  as  to  the  strength  of  Douglas  in  the  State. 
One,  a  Charleston  delegate,  said  he  would  not  do.  Hii  might  possibly 
vote  for  him  if  nominated,  but  it  would  be  with  great  reluctance.  He 
did  not  know  but  one  man  in  favor  of  Douglas  in  his  district.  The 
other  had  been  defeated  as  a  candidate  for  Charleston  delegate.  He 
said  Douglas  men  were  thick  as  blackberries  all  through  the  region 
from  which  he  came.  Douglas  would  carry  the  State  by  twenty  thou- 
sand majority.  "  Let  him  be  nominated,  and  there  will  be  such  a  war- 
whoop  as  never  was  hoard  in  the  land."  The  same  man  said  the  old- 
line  Democrats  of  Georgia  were  for  Douglas,  and  the  old-line  Whigs 
and  the  Americans,  turned  Democrats,  were  against  him.  Tbis  man 
was  asked  if  he  believed  in  Douglas's  doctrine  of  popular  sovereignty, 
which  was  no  better  than  Abolitionism,  and  he  said  he  "  went  the  whole 
of  it ;  "  and  he  was  backed  up  by  a  Douglas  man  from  Kentucky. 
The  Georgians  and  Kentuckians  generally,  on  the  train,  considered 
that  it  would  not  do  at  all  to  run  Douglas.  Some  man  must  be  run 
who  would  utKte  the  party — somebody  not  obnoxious  to  any  section  of 
it — somebody  who  had  not  been  so  I'ecently  as  Douglas  fighting  side  by 
side  with  the  Black  Republicans  against  the  one  and  indivisible  De- 
mocracy. 


[The  following  from  a  letter  written  at  Social  Circle,  Georgia,  on  the 
18tb  Apiil,  is  still  farther  illu.strative  :] 

Social  Circle,  Ga.,  April  18lh. 
We  have  had  warm  times  among  the  delegates  to  the  Convention 
since  our  stop  here.  A  conversation  conimencod  at  the  flinner  taMe 
about  Douglas.  There  was  a  delegate  from  Indiana  and  an  outsider 
from  Kentucky,  sitting  very  near  a  couple  of  Misgissippians,  delegatcH, 
frien<is  of  Jiff.  Davi.-J,  and  "  fire-eattTs."  a.s  we  term  them.  Some 
private  whi>ky  was  pa.sscd,  and  the  Mitsis.^ippians  drank  to  "the 
health  of  the  nominee."  The  question  was  askod  wheiher  that  in- 
cludi'd  Dnuiil'i^.  ]\lissis«:po'  i-aid  he  did  not  con.-^ider  him  in  the  ring 
at  all.  Up  [Dougli-.^^j  had  no  ^harct  of  being  the  nominee,  and  there- 
fore, when  he  diank  to  the  he  ilth  of  the  nominee  it  did  not  include 
him.  The  Douglas  niao  thought  Dougla«  should  be  included,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  say  that  if  h<i  woa  n/jminated  he  must  have  the  support 
of  the  entire  Democratic  pa'rtj.'  'A  man  could  not  go  into  a  Conven- 
tion and  then  boll  tne  nominee  if  not  pleased  with  him — not  at  all,  cer- 
tainly not  with  honoL.  Now,  the  Missi.^sippians  do  intend  to  bolt 
Douglas  if  he  is  nominated,  and  hence  they  were  touched,  and  took 
fire.  The  controversy  ran  high.  The  Indianian  was  asked  what  he 
meant  by  "Southern  fanatics  and  fire-caters" — an  expre.ss'on  he  had 
used — and  he  said,  "  such  men  as  Jeff.  Duvis."  This  was  touching 
the  Mi.-.-is.«;ippians  on  a  tender  point.  They  demanded  very  explicitly 
to  know  in  what  respect  Davis  was  fiinatical — and  the  spccitications 
were  rather  vague.  Mississippi  wanted  to  know  whether  Davis  had 
ever  demanded  any  thing  but  tlie  rights  of  the  South,  and  if  so,  what  ? — 
and  said  th-it  certain  ailenrations  made  against  the  conservatism  of  Davis 
were  mere  falsehoods.  Indiana  claimed  the  same  right  to  ori;ici.>?e  Da- 
vis that  Mississippi  had  to  criticise  Douglas.  Mississippi  denied  that. 
"  Davis  was  a  patriot,  and  Douglas  was  a  traitor,  d — d  little  better 
than  Seward — that  was  the  difference."  Indiana  talked  abuut  fighting 
thtt-battles  of  the  South  in  the  North,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing.  Mi.s- 
sissijipi  did  not  thank  the  Northern  Democracy  for  doing  any  such 
thing.  The  South  was  able  to  figlit  her  own  battles,  and  to  protect  her 
rights  She  could  do  this  out  of  the  Union,  if  not  in  it.  Indiana 
talked  about  returning  fugitive  slaves,  and  Mississippi  laughed  scorn- 
fully. And  as  iho  parties  had  to  either  bt  t  or  fight,  a  bet  of  one  thou- 
sand dollars  was  made  on  the  spot.  The  Mississippian  bet  that  Doug- 
las would  not  receive  the  electoral  vote  of  that  State  if  he  were  nomi- 
nated. The  Douglasife  bet  that  he  would.  If  Douglas  is  not  nomi- 
nateii  at  Charleston,  the  stakes  arc,  of  cour.-e,  to  be  withdrawn*  The 
feeling  excited  by  this  cf)ntroversy,  was  warm  and  general.  'I'lie  dele- 
gates who  did  not  mix  in,  shook  their  heads  and  talked  of  stormy  times 
ahead,  and  the  peril  in  which  the  party  would  be  placed.  It  was  man- 
ifest that  if  the  Mi.ssissippian  and  the  Indianian  were  joint  representa- 
tive men  of  their  sections,  there  was  little  chance  for  the  n<miination  of 
a  candidate   who  could,  by  any  possibility,  be  elected,  or  of  th(5   cou- 

*  TbU  bot  WM  wilbJrawn  >t  the  FOlicitntion  of  uiutunl  friontlii  rrom  Konttirky. 


struction  of  a  platform  that  would  be  even  superficially  Hatisfactory. 
Tlie  Mississippians  understood  themselves  to  be  of  the  class  that  dic- 
tates doctrine  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  talked  as  if  the  party  was 
their  property,  "peculiar,"  at  that,  and  rather  a  worn  out  old  nijrger, 
welcome  to  die.  Indiana  talked  of  love  for  the  party,  and  devotion  to 
it,  and  a  determination  to  support  the  nominee,  wlioever  he  might  he. 
Mi.-sis.-ippi  talked  of  principle,  and  "  damn  the  party,"  if  it  was  not 
placed  .^^quarely  upon  principle.  In  other  words,  if  the  party  was  not 
to  serve  the  South,  its  mission  was  accompli.sheH.  My  Indiana  frit'nd, 
was,  I  think,  astonished  to  find  a  real  live  specimen  of  fire-eater — and 
was  rather  embarrassed  hy  his  di^-covery.      ,  /., 

J  have  dwelt  on  this  scene  thus  fuliy,  .bj'cavist  is  is,a  preliminary 
symptom  of  the  Charleston  Cinvenji)!!,  and  h,  iitdefec4,tl{e' history  of 
the  Convention  in  miniature  and  waiM-ng  the-  cljmax.'  While  the  war 
went  on,  the  Kentucky  delegation,  quiet,, sui>3ta/)ii,al  gentlemen,  who 
don't  want  office,  and  would  not  havu  i{,, ;s.toiid  bac4<,  aml„talked  in  bus- 
iness-like style  of  the  great  merits  as  a,  in.i.rto;<pd  tfivtvjlybilify -sts  a  candi- 
date, of  their  friend,  the  Hon.  James  Gutlivio.  .  Xhfe.Mississippians 
have  the  Freeport  speech  of  Douglas  with  them,  at.d  intend  to  bom- 
bard him  in  the  Convention  with  ammunition  drawn  from  it.  The  ex- 
tract upon  which  they  depend  most,  i>  that  in  which  he  said  "  no  matter 
what  mav  be  the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court,"  the  {leople  of  a  Ter- 
ritory could  abolish  slaveiy  while  in  a  territorial  condition.  They  will 
use  this  rem<irselessly.  However  great  may  be  the  weight  of  the  Doug- 
las tnen  in  the  Convention,  he  will  bea.-sailed  mo.st  biiti  rly.  The  fi"-ht 
against  him  involves,  for  a  very  laige  class  of  Southern  politicians — 
indt.'cd,  the  most  influential  class  of  the  time — the  issues  of  life,  and 
those  Southern  men  have  a  great  advantage  over  the  Douglas  men  in 
the  fact  that  they  are  sincere.  They  have  principles.  They  stand  up- 
on convictions,  and  will  tight  until  from  thtir  hones  the  flvsh  be  hacked. 
The  Douglas  men  are  not  so  stiff  in  their  backs  nor  so  strong  in  the 
faith.  In  a  conversation  with  an  Alabama  delegate  to-day,  I  told  him 
I  presumed  the  South  would  have  to  put  up  with  another  |jlatform  culpa- 
ble of  a  double  construction  ;  he  declared  that  im]lOs^i^lle.  I  inquired 
— "  Don't  you  see  the  Douglas  delegates  don't  agree  with  you,  and 
can't  and  won't  agree  with  you?  Do  }0u  not  know  that  if  they  went 
home  to  make  a  fight  on  the  platform  you  in^ist  thiy  .--hall  place  thetn- 
selves  upon,  th(  y  would  be  beaten  in  every  Nuithtrn  vStaie  and  every 
Noithern  township,  and  that  the  majority  against  them  in  all  the  North- 
ern States  would  only  be  counted  by  tens  of  thousands?" 

No,  he  did  not  know  any  such  thing.  Mayor  Wood  wis  a  "sound 
man,"  and  had  cariicd  the  city  of  Ni  w  Yoik.  He  was  as  sound  as  any 
Southern  man.  Connecticut  would  have  been  carried  by  tlie  Dunocia- 
cy  if  there  had  not  been  so  much  pm  lering  to  Douglas-i.-m.  The  way 
to  fight  a  battle  was  to  fight  it  on  pr  nciple.  If  the  North  was  not  wil- 
ling to  stand  squarely  up  for  the  Constitution  with  the  South,  it  was 
high  time  the  fact  weie  known.      This  camp  lign  was  the  test  campaign. 

It  must  Vie  fought  on   prinei|ilt'..      Tin  re  mn.st  be  n<»   Douglas  do(i"c.- 

no  double  constructiois — no  janns-factd  lying  re.-oluiions — no  double- 
tongued  and  doubly  damned  iritiing  with  the  people.      The  people  were 


entitled  to  a  fair  figlit,  and  must  have  it.  Wliat  was  the  Democratic 
party  for  if  it  was  not  for  the  vindication  of  the  great  constitutional 
principles  upon  which  our  governmental  fahric  rests?  'I  stated  I  had 
for  some  time  strongly  suspected  that  the  Democratic  party  was  an  or- 
ganization for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  federal  offices — in  othe/ words, 
a  political  corporation — like  a  great  lottery  company — for  the  distribu- 
tion of  the  spoils.  I  thought  that  I  could  safely  speak  for  the  party  in 
the  North,  in  that  respect.  He  repudiated,  with  indignation — obvious- 
ly sincere,  too — all  idea  of  the  spoils.  He  was  for  Southern  principle; 
and  if  the  Democratic  party  was  not  for  them  it  was  against  them — and 
if  it  was  a  spoils  party,  the  sooner  it  was  destroyed  and  sent  to  the  devil, 
the  better.  As  f^  the  populftr  sovereignty  doctrine,  it  was  as  bad  as 
Scwardism;  it  wawino  real  prsictival  Black  Republicanism  doctrine  ;  it 
was  the  veritable  "  shert  cqt ''' — -is  \}o\.  Wi.se  said  in  his  Donnelly  let- 
ter— "  to  all  ihe  endS'Of  Black  Republicanism."  "  If  the  Republican 
party  leaders  had  half  sense  •^besftid),  they  would  adopt  the  Squatter 
Sovereignty  pl()itfcriu  at.Qiiiii^ago.'  It  was  the  Chicago,  not  the  Charles- 
ton card."        ^'•,  '..'',.'''" 

I  thouorht  so  too,  but  the  difficulty  was,  the  Republican  leaders  hadn't 
half  sense,  and  couldn't  see  their  game.  His  confidence  in  their  polit- 
ical sagacity  was  far  greater  than  mine. 

The  chances  of  Mr.  Doughis  for  the  Charleston  nomination,  were 
next  in  order.  I  spoke  of  the  great  pressure  that  would  be  brought  to 
bear  from  the  North,  for  Douglas.  He  said  the  nomination  of  Douglas 
was  not  a  possibility.  He  put  the  case  in  this  way  :  The  North  has 
had  two  Presidents.  The  South  is  willing,  so  far  as  she  is  concerned, 
that  she  shall  have  another  one.  But  the  South  will  not  allow  the 
Northern  man,  who,  of  all  men  claiming  to  belong  to  the  Democratic 
party,  is  most  obnoxious,  to  be  the  candidate.  The  South  has  to  per- 
form the  principal  part  in  the  election  of  the  President;  and  her  feel- 
in<»s  must  be  respected.  The  nomination  of  Douglas  would  be  an  in- 
sult to  her,  which  she  must  resent  by  defeating  him  at  all  hazards. 
And  here  our  coversation  subsided  into  observations  concerning  cypress 
.swamps,  the  inky  Edi.sto  river — a  ditch  fifty  yards  wide,  filled  with  black 
yfi{Qr — the  lofty  cypress  trees — the  yellow  pines — the  live  oaks — the 
Spanish  moss  making  the  wilderness  venerable — the  white  sand — the 
red  clay,  etc.,  etc. 

PLA.CKS,    PERSONS    AND    POLITICS    IN    Cn.\RLESTON    BEFORK    THK    CONVEN- 
TION. 

There  was  in  Charleston,  as  usual  in  such  ca.scs,  much  that  was  im- 
portant in  the  business  preliminary  to  the  Convention,  and  there  are 
many  places  in  the  city  intensified  with  the  Convention  in  interest. 
Among  those  places,  perhaps  the  most  interesting  are  Institute  Hall, 
where  the  Convention  was  held,  and  Ilibernia  Hall,  which  was  the 
Douglas  head-quarters. 

Chvri.kston,  April  20lh. 
The  Institute  Hill  where  the  Convention  is  to  bo   held,  will  contain 
about  three  thousand  people.     The  floor  is  perfectly  level,  and  the  seats 


are  all  old-fashioned,  woodeo-bottomed  chairs,  which  have  been  indepen- 
dent of  each  other  heretofore,  but  which  are  now  being  screwed  by  the 
half-dozen  to  pine  planks  placed  across  the  bottom.  There  is  a  gaud 
deal  of  gaudy  and  uncouth  ornamentation  about  the  hail.  The  fresco- 
ing is  mere  daubing.  The  principal  effjrt  in  art  is  immediately  over 
the  stage.  Three  highly  colored  but  very  improperly  dressed  females 
are  there  engaged.  One  seems  to  be  contemplating  matters  and  things 
in  general.  Another  is  mixing  colors  with  the  apparent  intention  of 
painting  something.  The  other  is  pointing  with  what  seems  to  be  a 
common  bowie-knife,  to  a  globe.  The  point  of  the  dagger  is  plunged 
into  the  Black  Sea.  It  may  be  held  to  be  according  to  the  proprieties, 
that  the  continent  which  is  outlined  most  conspicuously  on  this  globe  is 
marked  "  Africa."  There  are  rooms  behind  the  stage,  and  two  private 
boxes  above  it. 

The  Hall  is  situated  on  the  principal  thoroughfare  and  near  the  bus- 
iness centre  of  the  city.  The  Hibernian  Hall — the  Douglas  head-quar- 
ters is  situated  on  the  same  street,  a  square  and  a  half  distant.  This 
building  has  two  large  halls,  and  is  two  stories  in  height.  The  first 
floor  is  divided  into  two  small  rooms  and  one  spacious  hall,  where  a 
gigantic  bard  of  Erin  is  holding  a  harp,  such  as  was  heard  in  Tara's 
Halls  before  the  soul  of  music  fled.  Thesmaller  rooms  are  furnished 
with  long  tables,  plenty  of  chairs  and  writing  materials,  and  a  large 
supply  of  Sheahan's  Life  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  The  second  floor  is 
one  large  hall,  and  is  full  of  cots* for  the  Northwestern  delegations. 
There  are  several  hundreds  of  them,  with  white  spreads  and  pillows. 
They  are  arranged  in  rows  and  sections,  numbered  and  marked  for  the 
different  States. 

The  Douglas  men  are  to  be  found  for  the  most  part  at  the  "  Mills 
House."  The  fire-eaters  congregate  at  the  "  Charleston."  The  spa- 
cious passages  and  public  rooms  about  these  houses  are  already  swarm- 
ing with  politicians.  It  must  be  admitted  that  the  Southerners  have  the 
advantage  in  personal  appearance.  The  strong  men  of  the  South  are 
here  in  force,  as  they  always  are  upon  such  occasions.  There  is  suffi- 
cient wisdom  among  the  oligarchy  to  be  represented  in  Congress  and 
Conventions  by  men  of  experience  and  intellect,  and  they  attain  weighty 
advantages  in  this  way. 

The  arrival  at  the  Charleston  Hotel  to-day,  is  that  of  the  Hon.  W. 
L.  Yancey  of  Alabama,  the  prince  of  the  fire-eaters.  He  is  the  man 
said  to  be  charged  with  a  three  days'  speech  against  Douglas.  He  is  a 
compact,  middle-sized  man,  straight  limbed,  with  a  square  built  head 
and  face,  and  an  eye  full  of  expression.  He  is  mild  and  bland  in  man- 
ner as  Fernando  Wood,  and  has  an  air  of  perfect  sincerity  which  Wood 
has  not.  No  one  would  be  likely  to  point  him  out  in  a  group  of  gentle- 
men as  the  redoubtable  Yancey,  who  proposes  according  to  common  re- 
port to  precipitate  the  cotton  States  into  a  revolution,  dissolve  the  Union 
and  build  up  a  Southern  empire.  The  strong  point  made  against  him 
by  the  Douglasites  is  that  he  is  a  disunionist.  It  will  not  frighten  him, 
nor  his  Southern  friends,  however,  to  apply  that  epithet  to  him.  I  very 
much  doubt  whether  the  Douglas  men  have  a  leader  competent  to  cope 
with  him  in  the   coming  fight.     It  is  quite  clear  that  while  the  North 


mny  he  stronypst  in  votps  here,  nnd  the  mopt  noisy,  the  South  Tfill  have 
the  intellect  jind  the  pluck  to  ni.ikc  its  points.  I  do  not  think  any  im- 
portaiJDn  of  Doujilas  m  n  can  provont  the  Convention  from  "wiaiing 
a  soutiiein  aspt-ct,"  as  the  Aforcury,  of  (his  city,  said  it  must.  Prom- 
inent in  the  crowd  at  the  Mills  Iluuse,  is  the  burly  form  of  the  far- 
fimed  Geo.  N  Smders,  New  Y^oik  navy  agent.  The  politicians  here 
are  fond  of  inquiring  whether  he  feels  comfurtahle  ahout  the  neck,  it 
being  rumored  that  the  President  is  about  to  remove  him  for  his  audac^ 
ity  it)  coming  down  here  as  a  Douglas  man. 

There  are  a  great  muny  men  of  distinguished  personal  appearance  to 
be  seen  a!)out  the  hotels,  as  usual  during  National  Conventions,  speak- 
er-hip conttsts.  and  other  times  of  extraordinary  commotion  among  pol- 
iticians. A  large  numlier  have  the  general  characteristics  of  first  class 
gamblers,  and  th-j  probability  is,  there  are  keepers  of  the  playful  animal 
known  as  "ye  tiger"  to  be  fimnd  in  this  vicinity.  There  are  great 
portly  fellows,  with  protuberant  stomachs  and  puffy  cheeks,  red  fore- 
heads, hair  thin  and  grizzly,  dressed  in  glos.sy  black  and  fine  linen,  with 
the  latest  style  of  stove-pipe  hats,  and  ponderous  gold-headed  canes — 
perspiring  and  smoking,  and  engaged  in  mysterious  conversations,  con- 
cerning ciucus  stratagems,  of  intense  interest  to  themselves.  Every 
body  is  talking  ahout  the  Convention,  and  prophesying  and  wondering 
as  to  its  action.  The  Douglasites  claim  prodigious  things.  The  ultra 
So'ithern  men  sneer  at  the  idea  of  Douglas's  nomination,  and  inquire — 
"  Where  was  he  two  years  ago?" — and  answer  the  question  theinsclvos 
— "Caucusing  with  Seward  —  leagued  with  the  Black  Repulilicans 
against  a  Democratic  Adn)inistration."  They  say  his  pretenses  in  the 
Lccompton  reb<  llion  were  false,  and  that  his  subsequent  talk  proves 
them  to  be  so.  They  say  his  line  of  policy  then,  if  honestly  followed, 
would  have  carried  him  where  John  W.  Forney  is  now — into  the  ranks 
of  the  Kc|)ul)lican  party.  The  Douglas  men  generally  resjioiid  by 
speaking  of  their  champion  facing  dreadful  mobs  of  Black  Repulilicans, 
and  gazing  info  the  mouths  of  pi.-tols,  in  defense  of  the  rights  of  the  South. 
They  inquire  further,  whether  Illinois  has  not  always  been  true  to  the 
Democratic  party.  I  heanl  this  question  put  to  a  fire-eater,  and  he  said, 
'•  Did'nt  Illinois  elect  a  Black  Republican  Governor?"  "  Who  was  Bis- 
sell?"  The  response  of  the  Douglas  man  was,  that  Bissell  was  not 
not  elected  by  a  majority  vote.  I'he  Southern  rejoinder  was  :  "Did 
Douglas  have  a  maj  >rity  of  the  popular  vote  in  his  Senatorial  contest 
with  Lincoln?"  And  the  Douglasite  come  back  with  a  broadside,  di- 
rected at  the  Danites,  or  Ailministration  men,  who  gave  Lincoln  aid 
and  comfort.      And  ."^o  the  battle  rages  along  the  whole  line. 

The  Douglas  men  came  down  here  from  their  head-quarters  in  Wash- 
ington, where  whisky  flows  like  a  river. 

Likp  roine  vast  river  of  UDfoiling  source  ; 
Itapid,  oxhaustte.'i.'i  ducp,     •     • 

— they  were  full  of  enthusiasm — rampant  and  riotous — "hot  as  mon- 
keys"— and  proclaim  that  the  universal  world  is  for  the  ]>iitle  Giant. 
They  have  a  desperate  fight  before  them,  and  are  briui  full  oK,  the  sound 
and  fury  of  boastfuluess. 


THE    DOUGLAS    DEMONSTRATION SENATOR    SLIDELL. 

Charleston,  S.  C,  April  21st,  1860, 
The  principal  hotels  swarm  like  hives  this  morning.  The  greatest 
crowd  is  at  the  Mills  EInuse,  which  is  the  Douglas  head-quarters  The 
air  is  full  of  tobaceo-smoke  and  rumors.  There  is  nothing  definite  to 
be  found  out.  The  private  consultation  rooms  are  ibe  centres  of  inter- 
est, but  it  is  impossible  to  arrive  at  results.  The  friends  of  Douglas 
are  by  no  means  disposed  to  talk  about  their  stcond  choice.  They 
swear  they  have  none,  and  will  stick  to  Dug  while  the  hair  is  on  their 
heads.  They  won't,  however.  M;my  of  them  would  be  weary  after 
two  days'  balloting.  The  Administration  and  Southern  U.  S.  Suiiators 
scout  the  idea  of  the  success  of  Douglas.  They  consider  his  defeat  a 
foregone  conclusion.  Slidell  was  urged  last  week  to  come  down  and 
attend  to  the  extermination  of  his  enemy,  but  said  at  first,  he  would  not 
— for  there  was  no  danger  of  the  nomination  of  the  obnoxious  individ- 
ual. The  Douglas  men  made  such  demonstrations  in  Washington, 
however,  and  indicated  such  power  and  confidence,  that  "  Old  Hou- 
mas,"  as  his  enemies  s-tyle  him,  concluded  to  come.  He  will  be  here 
this  evening,  and  will  operate  against  Douglas.  He  is  a  matuhless 
wire-worker,  and  the  news  of  his  approach  causes  a  flutter.  His  ap- 
pearance here  means  war  to  the  knife.  It  means  also,  that  the  Admin- 
istration is  uneasy  on  the  Douglas  question — and  feel  constrained  to 
exert  every  influence  against  the  Squatty  Giant  of  Illinois,  whose  nom- 
ination would  be  perdition  to  Buchanan,  Slidell  io  Co. 

There  is  not,  however,  for  the  moment,  so  much  bitterness  of  denun- 
ciation in  the  talk  of  the  Southern  delegates  here,  as  there  was  on  the 
road.  The  Douglas  element  is  so  powerful,  that  it  would  be  indiscreet 
to  exasperate  it.  And  the  Douglasites  repeat  vcr}'  few  of  those  dis- 
paraging words  so  familiar  in  their  mouths  at  home,  about  the  Southern 
fir^-eaters  and  fanatics.  They  sing  low  and  roar  gently  about  Southern 
sectionalism.  All  these  ill  humors  must,  however,  have  their  breaking 
out  in  the  heat  of  the  Convention.  In  these  piping  times  of  private 
caucuses,  the  bad  blood  is  diplomatically  preserved  for  home  consump- 
tion. 

THE   DAY    PRECEDING    THE    CONVENTION DOUGLAS    STOCK    UP. 

Charleston,  S.  C,  April  22d. 
Tlie  run  of  the  current  this  morning  is  Douglas-ward.  The  friends 
of  Douglas  are  encouraged  by  the  events  of  last  night.  In  the  first 
place,  the  Executive  Committee  adjourned  sine  die,  without  repudia- 
ting the  action  of  Judge  Smalley,  the  Chairman,  in  issuing  tickets  to 
the  Cagi!;er,  Cassidy  and  Dean  Richmond  New  Yorkers,  and  to  the 
Douglas  Illinois  delegation.  Fernando  VVond  and  Ike  Cook  and  their 
delegations  are  full  of  wrath,  and  denounce  Smalley  in  extreme  terras. 
The  fight  iu  the  Executive  Committee  on  the  question  of  adjournment 
sine  die,  was  a  small  fight  between  the  Douglas  and  Anti-Douglas  men, 
and  the  former  triumphed  by  one  majitrity.  The  Committee,  however, 
was  not  full,  only  eighteen  States  being  represented.  This  sends  Doug- 
las stock  up  this  morning.     Another  thing  is,  the  Southern  delegations 


8 

have  hold  caucuses  and  consultatlf.Ds  for  two  or  throe  days,  to  try  to 
agree  upon  a  candifl  tto  upon  whom  to  concentrate  their  vote,  and  upon 
the  points  of  the  platform.  They  had  a  f-pecial  meeting  last  night  and 
failed  to  accomplish  any  thing,  except  to  exhibit  their  incapacity  to  come 
togetlier.  The  game  of  the  Douglas  men,  just  now,  is  one  they  are 
not  well  qualified  to  play.  It  is  to  be  quiet  and  conciliatory.  Tht-y  try 
to  think  and  act  upon  the  prc^umpMon,  that  they  have  the  Convention 
in  their  hands,  and  wish  to  make  all  the  friends  they  can  in  the  South. 
They  say,  and  it  is  possible  there  is  some  truth  in  it,  that  the  failure  of 
the  South  to  unite,  arises  from  secret  Douglas  influences.  The  ultra 
Southerners  are  becoming  more  bitter.  The  delegations  from  Georgia, 
Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Florida,  Arkansas  and  Texas,  have 
agreed  to  withdraw  if  Douglas  should  be  nominated,  and  it  is  believed 
that  a  portion  of  the  North  Carolina,  Virginia,  Kentucky  and  Missouri 
delegations  would  follow.  The  Douglas  men  look  a  little  wild  at  this, 
but  say  they  don't  care,  and  console  themselves  by  assuming  that  this 
course  on  the  part  of  the  South  would'  be  great  gain  to  them  in  the 
North.  They  assert  their  ability  to  carry  all  the  Northern  States,  if 
this  Southern  withdrawal  should  take  place.  The  South  is  not  unwil- 
ling, if  it  fails  to  control  the  Convention,  so  far  as  to  defeat  Douglas, 
to  accept  the  hazard.  The  ultras  have  no  doubt  of  their  ability  to 
carry  six  or  eight,  perhaps  more.  Southern  States. 

They  expect  Douglas  then  to  carry  enough  Northern  States  to  carry 
the  election  into  Congress,  where  they  have  no  doubt  the  Senate  would 
finally  be  called  upon  to  elect.  In  case  of  the  nomination  of  Douglas  by 
the  Convention,  and  the  withdrawal  of  the  Southern  ultras — there  would 
be  a  desperate  battle  fought  in  the  ultra  Southern  States  between  the 
slave  code  and  Douglas  Democracy  ;  and  it  might  do  the  fire-eaters 
great  good  to  be  whipped  in  that  way  upon  their  own  ground.  They 
have,  however,  unlimited  confidence  in  their  ability  to  carry  their  own 
States. 

Several  incidents  occurred  last  night  to  raise  the  spirits  of  the  Doug- 
lasites. 

The  majority  of  the  Pennsylvania  delegation  is  against  Douglas 
and  proposing  in  the  caucus  last  night  that  Pennsylvania  should  vote 
as  an  unit  in  the  Convention  ;  the  Douglasites  rebelled,  and  threat- 
ened to  leave  the  caucus  room  if  the  movement  of  the  majority  were 
persisted  in,  whereupon  the  caucus  adjourned,  to  meet  at  nine  o'clock 
to-morrow  morning,  when  the  majority  will  experiment  again  on  giving 
the  vote  of  the  State  solid.  The  prospect  of  attaining  this  solidity,  is  by 
no  means  flattering.  On  the  other  hand,  in  the  Indiana  delegation, 
the  Douglas  mujority  triumphed,  and  the  stiflT-nccked  Administration 
district  delegates,  Develin  of  Wayne,  and  Tabot  of  Marion,  knocked 
under,  and  agreed  to  go  with  their  Douglas  brethren  and  cast  the  vote 
of  the  State  as  a  unit.  My  opinion  still  is  that  the  chances  are  against 
the  nomination  of  Douglas.  I  can  see  how  he  can  get  a  majority  vote — 
but  I  cannot  figure  out  a  two-thirds  vote  for  him.  The  tide  of  aflTairs 
is,  however,  favorable  to  him  to-day,  and  the  capacity  of  the  presuii  ing 
and  vehement  bearers  of  the  political  fortunes  of  the  Little  Giant  to 
realize  their  prophecies,  may  be  very  great. 


THE  NIGHT  BEFORE  THE  CONVENTION. 

Charleston,  S.  C,  April  22-  10  P.  M. 

The  excitement  in  the  city  to-night  is  higher  than  heretofore.  The 
politicians  are  in  full  blast.  I  think  Douglas  stock,  which  went  up  a 
little  this  morning,  is  now  drooping. 

Passing  Magnolia  Hall  this  evening,  I  saw  the  Douglas  delegation  of 
Congressmen  from  Illinois,  seated  mournfully  on  the  steps.  Their  na- 
tive resolution  seemed  sicklied  o'er  by  the  pale  cast  of  thought,  and  to 
have  lost  the  name  of  action.  They  were  pensive  and  silent.  There 
was  Logan  with  his  dark,  narrow  face,  and  black  hair  and  eyes,  gazing 
upon  one  of  the  pillars,  his  hat  tilted  far  back  on  his  head,  his  hands  in 
his  pockets,  and  his  mouth  full  of  tobacco.  There  was  Col.  McCler- 
nand,  with  peaked  face,  running  to  a  hooked  nose,  sadly  playing  with 
his  watch-guard.  Presently  there  was  Richardson,  the  Douglas  leader 
in  the  Cincinnati  delegation,  and  the  champion  in  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, of  the  Little  Giant,  in  the  days  of  the  Kansas  Nebraska  Bill. 
Poor  Richardson  has  had  a  hard  time  of  it.  He  left  Congress,  where 
he  might  have  been  a  fixture,  and  made  the  canvass  for  Governor  of  Illi- 
nois against  Bissell.  He  did  this  against  his  wishes,  and  to  carry  the 
State,  where  his  popularity  with  his  party  is  second  only  to  that  of 
Douglas.  He  was  influential  in  carrying  the  State  for  Buchanan,  but 
lost  his  own  election  He  was  appointed  Governor  of  Nebraska,  and 
resigned  after  the  Lecompton  rebellion,  to  escape  removal.  He  is  a 
fine  specimen  of  a  strong,  coarse  man.  He  has  an  immense  nose  and 
mouth,  and  fine  eyes,  and  amid  such  scenes  as  are  here  being  enacted, 
he  is  second  to  none  as  a  worker  of  sagacity  and  force. 

The  Mills  House,  where  Douglas  "  men  most  do  congregate,"  is  as 
lively  as  a  molasses  barrel  with  flies.  Here  is  where  the  outside  pressure 
is  brought  to  bear.  It  is  here  that  "  public  opinion  "  is  represented  ac- 
cording to  Douglas.  Here  they  tell  you  Douglas  must  be  the  nominee 
— "  all  that  is  to  be  done  is  to  ratify  the  voice  of  the  people."  There 
is  nothing  but  a  few  ballots,  and  all  is  over — Douglas  the  nominee — 
South  will  come  down — certain  to  be  elected.  The  country  safe — the 
party  safe.  They  only  want  a  "  chance  to  raise  the  war-whoop  for 
Douglas  in  the  North-west — that's  all.  Carry  every  State  North-west 
— carry  Ohio?  Lord,  yes!  Carry  Ohio  by  twenty  thousand.  If 
somebody  suggests,  but  where  are  your  figures?  How  can  you  obtain 
the  two-thirds  vote  requisite  to  nominate  ?  And  half  a  dozen  of  the 
makers  of  public  opinion  tell  you  all  about  it.  Every  thing  North  is 
claimed  of  course,  and  you  hear  that  on  certain  ballots,  Kentucky,  Mis- 
souri, and  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  Tennessee,  California  and  Oregon, 
are  coming  into  line.  "And  suppose  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Georgia 
and  Louisiana,  with  scattering  delegates  in  other  States,  go  out — what 
then?"  "  What?  why  tremendous  gains  in  the  North,  to  be  sure, 
just  the  thing  we  want."  But  if  you  suggest,  "  Douglas  stock  is  droop- 
ing a  little  this  evening.  It  is  not  at  the  high  mark  it  was  this  morning. 
You  have  enthusiasm  enough,  but  you  have  not  the  votes."  You  are 
told,  "  Not  a  bit  of  it.  Douglas  stock  down — not  possible.  It  can't 
20  down." 


10 

There  is  "  For  God's  sake  Lindor,"  of  Illinois.  He  niaflo  a  ppoech 
last  riij^hr  in  lliliernia  Hall  to  the  faithful,  soniethirit^  alter  the  J«»ha 
Brougti  style  of  elt.qiuMice.  His  linen  suffu-red  in  thetffjit,  and  he  has 
not  been  at  pains  to  conceal  the  evidences  of  his  enthii>ia.>in  hy  the 
proper  chanj^e.  His  collar  and  cravat  have  seen  service  evidinrly. 
He  gets  his  name  "  For  God's  sake  Linder."  from  a  letter  which 
Douglas  once  wrote  him  sajinir,  "for  God's  sake,  Linder,  come  down 
here,  I  ne<d  hidp."  Some  enterprising  editor  obtained  a  copy  of  the 
letter,  and  printed  it,  and  it  has  not  been  forgotten.  There  is  the  en- 
terprii-ing  firm  of  Faran  &  McLean,  looking  solemn  as  the  grave,  and 
button-h(deinir  some  refractory  delegate,  telling  him  how  essential  it  is 
to  the  safety  of  the  universe  that  Douglas  should  be  nominated.  They 
of  course  don't  feel  any  personal  interest  in  the  matter.  They  are  af- 
flicted with  principle  oidy.  T.  Jeff  Sherlock,  f'>q.,  is  lookit)g  in  upon 
the  crowd,  and  don't  think  Douglas  can  be  nominated.  lie  represents 
the  Collecror's  office,  and  the  virtuous  Douglas  men,  who  don't  want 
office,  in-ist  that  he  is  nobody  because  he  is  in  office.  And  radiant  in 
a  full  suit  of  white  along  comes  W.  J.  Flagg,  E-q.,  legislator — the 
man  who  was  so  bold  as  to  advocate  the  admission  of  fresh  air  info  the 
hall  of  a  delilterative  assen)bly  in  Ohio.  It  is  clear  that  he  is  an  inno- 
vator, and  in  these  times,  when  conservatism  is  so  much  in  demand,  he 
must  be  held  to  be  dangerous. 

Passing  along  we  find  a  tall  portly  man  in  glossy  black,  with  a  bad 
stoop  in  the  shoulders,  a  new  stove-pipe  bat  retaining  in  places  the 
original  shine,  a  bright  red  face  out  of  which  look  brilliant  eyes,  carry- 
ing in  his  right  hand,  a?  if  it  were  a  m;ice,  a  huge  gold-headed  cane — 
it  is  Col.  Orr.  fif  South  Carolina,  late  Speaker  of  the  House,  and  now 
suspected  of  Douglas  inclinations  and  of  a  willingness  to  be  either 
President  or  Vice  President  of  the  United  States.  He  is  in  the  midst 
of  a  confidential  talk  with  a  burly,  piratical  looking  person  in  a  gray  busi- 
ness suit,  the  sack  coat  making  him  look  even  more  squatty  than  he 
really  is.  The  features  of  this  individual  are  a  little  on  the  bull-dog 
order.  He  does  not  look  like  a  man  of  much  intellect,  but  is  evident- 
ly a  marked  man — a  man  of  energy  and  perseverance,  of  strength  and 
strategy.  Ponderous  as  he  is,  be  moves  lightly.  Fat  as  he  is,  be  is 
restless,  and  as  he  smokes  his  cigar,  he  consumes  it  with  furious  inces- 
sant whiffs.  Tlie  black  whiskers  are  sprinkled  lightly  with  gray.  It  is 
Young  America,  otherwise  Geo.  Sanders.  And,  so,  so,  Mr.  Orr,  we 
see  how  the  cat  is  jumping  with  you.  You  would  have  no  objections 
to  be  second  choice  of  the  Douglas  men — not  a  bit.  You  would  be 
willing  to  take  the  Vice  Presidency  at  the  hands  of  the  Douglas  De- 
mocracy, wouldn't  you  V  And,  so,  so,  you  got  up  a  Convention  in 
South  Carolina  the  other  day,  Mr  Orr.  The  Platform  was  a  little  too 
strongly  anti-Douglas  to  suit  you,  but  that  could  not  be  helped.  Y^oa 
could  not  do  tcso  much  violence  to  the  traditional  leadings  Southern  pro- 
clivities of  South  Carolina.  You  did  all  you  could.  Your  intentions 
were  toward  Douglas,  and  yourself.  If  you  dared,  you  would,  with 
your  South  Carolitm  delegation,  make  common  cause  with  the  Douglas 
men.  liut  you  dare  not  do  that.  And  we  leave  you.  Col.  Orr,  in  the 
care  of  Geo   Sanders. 


11 

At  the  Charleston  House  we  find  another  atmosphere.  Here  are 
the  fire-eaters  in  full  force.  We  miss  the  prince  of  them,  Yancc}'^  of 
Alabama.  He  is  not  a  man'  to  talk  confirlentially  in  evfiwds.  He 
don't  talk  politics  with  or  like  the  common  herd.  He  may  he  found  in 
the  private  parlor  of  the  Alabama  delegation.  And  there  is  Baiksdale, 
the  Congressman  of  Mississippi,  with  his  hat  pulled  down  over  his 
right  eye.  He  has  a  w-ay  of  throwing  his  head  on  one  side  and  turning 
up  his  chin,  and  talking  in  a  short  sharp  way,  like  a  New  York  13'hoy. 
He  is  thick  set,  bioad  shouldered  and  short-legged.  His  eye  is  small 
and  fierce.  The  whole  country  knows  that  he  wears  a  wig — for  Potter, 
of  Wisconsin,  knoeked  it  ( ff  once  upon  a  time.  But  as  for  a  duel,  be- 
ware of  meeting  Barksdale  with  bowie-knives !  He  knows  how  to  han- 
dle the  implement  and  has  handled  it.  The  fire  eaters  are  talking  about 
principle.  A  Douglas  man  or  two  have  strayed  down  here,  and  are 
trying  to  explain  that  Douglas  don't  really  mean  any  thing  by  popular 
sovereignty.  "  He  had  to  talk  that  pretty  strong  to  get  baek  to  the 
Senate."  The  people  mus^t  be  talked  to  violently  about  something — 
might  as  well  say  popular  sovereignty  to  them  as  any  thing  else. 
"  -Douglas  would  leave  it  all  to  the  Courts  at  last.  The  Courts  will  fix 
it  all  right.  Let  us  drop  this  immaterial  issue  and  go  in  fur  the  strong- 
est man — and  his  name  is  Stephen  A.  Douglas."  The  South  listens 
and  commences — "  What,  and  we  must  throw  a  bone  to  the  Abolition- 
ists, must  we,  eh?  We  must  compromise  with  Abolitionism  in  order  to 
carry  the  North — must  we?  We  must  take  up  an  unsound  man,  or 
lose  the  battle — must  we?  No,  sir.  We  have  had  too  much  of  this. 
It  is  time  the  Democratic  p'»rty  took  up  sound  men,  and  fought  on  prin- 
ciple. It  is  the  best  policy  tn  fight  on  principle.  Mayor  Wood  carried 
New  York  on  principle.  Connecticut  would  have  been  carried,  if  it  had 
not  been  for  the  taint  of  Dougla^ism.  Rhode  Island  victory!  There 
is  no  such  thing.  The  Seward  Republicans  and  Douglas  Democrats  in 
Rhode  I-land  united  and  beat  a  John  Brown  Helperile.  That's  the 
way  of  it.  I  tell  you  we  can  succeed  without  Douglas.  He  is  the 
weakest  man  out.  But  if  he  was  strongest,  I  would  not  give  a  damn 
for  a  victory  with  him.  I  want  the  party  destroyed  if  it  is  a  one-man 
party.  I  want  defeat  if  we  can't  have  honest  victory.  No  unfriendly 
legislation  shall  exclude  our  property  from  the  Territories.  We  must 
have  our  property  protected." 

This  is  not,  by  any  means,  an  imaginary  conversation.  I  have  heard 
two  to-night  that  were  in  substance  as  I  have  set  down  here. 

To  complete  the  rounds  to  night,  we  must  go  over  to  King  street, 
and  look  in  upon  the  head-quarters  of  the  Administration  Senators  es- 
tablished luxuriou>Iy  there,  in  a  large  old-fashioned  building,  overlook- 
ing and  entered  through  an  ice-cream  garden,  whiih,  though  this  is 
Sunday  evening,  is  open  to  the  public,  and  thronged  by  visitors.  The 
Administration  Senators  tell  us  that  they  are  not  at  all  uneasy  on  the 
subject  of  the  nomination  of  Douglas.  They  say  he  cannot  possibly 
get  more  than  one  hundred  and  six  votes  on  the  first  ballot ;  that  his 
strength  will  never  be  as  great  as  it  was  at  Cincinnati  after  Pierce  was 
withdrawn;  that  is,  they  say,  "if  there  is  truth  in  men."  But  some- 
times, and  this  is  one  of  them,  there  is  not  truth  in  men.     Douglas  will 


12 

not,  I  presume,  be  nominated,  but  he  will  get  more  than  one  hundred 
and  six  votes. 

The  Administration  Seniifors  tell  us  Douglas  is  not  to  be  tlie  nomi- 
nee— cannot  get  one-half  the  votes — nothing  like  it.  If  these  Senators 
are  speaking  the  truth,  then  there  are  lies  enough  told  at  the  Mills 
House  every  day  to  sink  a  ship,  if  each  one  only  wt-igbed  but  an  ounce. 
And  the  St-'naiors  produce  the  figures.  Douglas  will  hardly  get  a  vote 
from  a  slave  State,  unless  it  may  be  one  or  two  from  each  of  the  States 
of  Maryland  and  Missouri.  New  York  is  dead  again.-t  him.  Neither 
delegation  from  that  State  is  for  him,  and  the  State  nuK-^t  vote  as  an 
unit.  But  will  it  V  Senators  say  yes.  And  Pennsylvania  V  Sena- 
tors say  Douglas  cannot  certainly  get  a  vote  from  Pennsylvania.  The 
majority  of  the  delegation  is  for  Breckenridge,  and  it  is  the  Hunter  and 
Guthrie  men  who  are  strongest  against  State  unity.  But  they  will  all 
come  in — every  man — and  the  State  will  be  an  unit  against  Duuglas. 
It  will  all  be  fixed  in  the  morning.  And  Senators  say  also  that  Massa- 
chusetts is  against  Dour:;las — dead  and  united  against  him — ami  Maine 
evenly  divided.  New  Hampshire  is  for  him,  and  waiting  to  have  him 
slaughtered,  in  order  to  introduce  to  the  Convention  the  name  of  Frank- 
lin Pierce.  Senators  are  bitter.  They  are  not  only  against  tlie  Presi- 
dential aspirations  of  the  Senator  of  Illinois,  but  they  hate  hiui  most 
cordially,  and  some  of  them  swear  vengeance. 

The  full-faced  gentleman  without  a  vest,  sitting  on  the  corner  of  a 
chair,  and  smoking  a  fragrant  cigar  in  the  contemplative  style — the  gen- 
tleman with  long  brown  curling  hair,  parted  in  the  middle — is  Senator 
Bayard,  of  Delaware,  a  distinguished  lawyer  and  a  Democratic  partisan 
of  long  standing.  He  could  do  his  State  some  service,  by  helping  her 
to  get  rid  of  slavery,  but  he  is  a  pro-slavery  man.  He  is  a  descendant 
of  the  illustrious  Chevalier  Bayard,  the  knight  without  fear  or  reproach. 
Senator  Bayard  is  a  handsome,  courtly  gentleman,  who  is  persuually  a 
goodly  man  to  know. 

The  heavy,  closely-shaven  gentleman,  with  yellow  vest,  open,  that 
its  wearer  may  have  the  benefit  of  the  breeze — the  gentleman  leaning 
against  the  railing,  in  his  chair,  looking  like  a  business  man  more  than 
a  Senator  (if  we  may  be  allowed  such  a  distinction),  is  Jesse  D.  Bright, 
who  has  long  been  the  king  caucus  of  Indiana.  Mr.  Bright's  hatred  of 
Douglas  is,  jierhaps,  just  now,  the  strongest  passion  of  his  soul.  Doug- 
las voted  to  exclude  him  from  the  Senate,  and  their  relations  are  those 
of  irreconcilable  and  deadly  hate.  It  is  reported  that  he  swears  he  will 
stump  Indiana,  county  by  county,  against  Douglas,  if  he  should  be 
nominated. 

The  rosy  gentleman,  with  the  farmer-like  aspect,  slightly  inclined  to 
be  just  fat  enough  to  be  sleek,  and  whose  countenance  is  so  placid  that 
you  would  not  imagine  he  had  ever  been  crushed  by  Douglas  in  debate, 
or  become  weak  in  the  knees,  and  been  guilty  of  wincing  at  Southern 
thunder,  the  gentleman  who  has  just  ascended  the  stairs,  and  has  thrown 
himself  into  a  perspiration,  and  who  is  alternately  mopping  with  his 
handkercliief  and  fanning  with  his  hat,  is  the  Hon.  William  Bigler,  of 
Pennsylvania.  Within,  seated  at  a  round  table,  on  whii-h  books,  news- 
papers and  writing  material  is  scattered  about,  is  a  gentleman  with  long, 


13 


thin  white  hair,  through  which  the  top  of  his  head  blushes  like  the  shell  of 
a  boiled  lobster.  The  gentleman  has  also  a  cherry-red  face,  the  color 
being  that  produced  by  good  health,  and  good  living  joined  to  a  florid 
teiuperamont.  His  features  are  well  cut,  and  the  expression  is  that  of 
a  thoughtful,  hard-working,  resolute  man  of  the  world.  He  is  a  New 
Yorker  by  birth,  but  has  made  a  princely  fortune  at  the  New  Orleans 
bar.  He  is  not  a  very  eloquent  man  in  the  Senate,  but  his  ability  is 
unquestioned ;  and  it  is  universally  known  that  he  is  with  the  present 
Administration,  the  power  behind  the  throne  greater  than  the  throne 
itself.  Mr.  Buchanan  is  as  wax  in  his  fingers.  The  name  of  this  gen- 
tleman is  John  Slidell.  His  special  mission  here  is  to  see  that  Stephen 
A.  Douglas  is  not  nominated  for  the  Presidency.  If  I  am  not  much 
mistaken,  he  just  now  manipulated  a  few  of  the  North-eastern  men  with 
such  marvelous  art,  that  they  will  presently  find  they  are  exceedingly 
anxious  to  defeat  the  nomination  of  Douglas,  and  they  will  believe  that 
they  arrived  at  the  conclusions  now  coming  uppermost  in  their  minds  in 
their  own  way. 

There  has  been  a  great  deal  more  drunkenness  here  to-day  than  here- 
tofore. Most  of  the  violent  spreeing  is  done  by  roughs  from  the  North- 
ern Atlantic  cities  who  are  at  last  making  their  appearance.  There 
have  been  a  number  of  specimens  of  drunken  rowdyi&m  and  imbecility 
about  the  hotels.  And  I  hear,  as  I  write,  a  company  of  brawlers  in 
the  street  making  night  hideous. 


LIST  OF   DELEGATES   TO   THE   NATIONAL   DEMOCRATIC    CON- 
VENTION. 

[From  the  Secretary's  Roll.] 

The  following,  furnished  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Convention  to  the 
Charleston  newspapers,  is  the  most  correct  List  of  Delegates  published. 
The  list  cannot  be  absolutely  accurate,  for  the  reason  that  some  of  the 
originally  accredited  delegates  never  appeared — and  after  the  first  day 
of  the  Convention,  changes  were  constantly  being  made  : 


Thos.  Bradbury,  Eastport. 
Georg«  F.  Stapley,  Portland. 
E.  Wilder  Fialey,  Newcastle. 
Amos  M.  Roberts,  Bangor. 
S.  R.  Lyman,  Portland. 
Thomas  K.  Lane,  Saco. 
S.  C.  Blanchard,  Yarmouth. 
Calvin  Record,  Auburn. 
Thomas  D.  Robinson,  Bath. 
Henry  W.  Owen,  Bath. 
Henry  A.  Wyman,  Snowhegan. 
Charles  D.  Jameson,  Bangor. 
J    Withrop  Jones,  Ellsworth. 
P.  S.  J.  Talbot,  East  Machias. 
J.  Y.  McClmtock,  Belfast. 
W.  H.  Burvill,  Belfast. 


John  S.  Robinson,  Bennington. 

Jasper  Rand,  Berkshire. 

Henry  Keys,  Newbury. 

E.  M.  Brown,  Woodstock. 

Charles  G.  Eastman,  Montpelier. 

Pitt  W.  Hyde,  Hydeville. 

U.  E.  Stoughton,  Bellows  Falls. 


Stephen  Thomas,  West  Fairlee. 
Lucius  Robinson,  Newport. 
H.  B.  Smith,  Milton. 

NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

Josiah  Minot,  Concord. 
Daniel  Marcy,  Portsmouth. 
Robert  S.  Webster,  North  Barnstead. 
George  W.  Stevens,  Dover. 
Aaron  P.  Hughes,  Nashua. 
Edward  W.  Harringtou,  Manchester. 
Alpheus  F.  Snow,  Claremont. 
Ansel  Glover,  Alstead. 
William  Burns,  Lancaster. 
George  A.  Bingham,  Bath. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Caleb  Gushing,  Ncwburyport. 
Jas.  G.  Whitney,  Boston. 
Oliver  Stevens,  Boston. 
Isaac  Davis,  Worcester. 
Wm.  C.  N.  Swift,  New  Bedford. 
Edward  Merrill,  New  Bedlord. 
Phineas  W.  Leland.  Fall  River. 
Ale.T.  Lincoln,  Hingham. 
Orison  Underwood,  Milfurd. 


14 


BraJford  L  Wales,  Randolph. 

Jatncs  Uilev.  Huston. 
Isaac  II    VVru'lit.  Boston. 
Cornelius  Uoh.rty,  Boston. 
K.  S.  (Chaffee   East  Cambridge. 

E.  G.  Williams,  Newburyport. 
C.  G.  Clark,  Lynn. 

F.  O.  Prince.  Winchester. 
Geo.  Jobii.son,  Bradford. 
Bonj    F    Butkr.  Lowell 
Walter  Fes-endeii,  Townsend. 
Henry  II   .'Elevens,  Dudley. 
Geo.  \V.  Gill.  Worcester. 

C.  W   Cliapin,  Springfield. 
Josiab  AUis,  Wbatciy. 

D.  N   (;arpc;:ftr,  Greenfield. 
Charles  Hecbuer,  Lee. 

CONNBCTICDT. 

James  T   Pratt,  Rock  Hill. 
Samuel  Arnold,  Iladdam. 
Andrew  C  Li  pItt,  New  London. 
W.  U.  Bishop,  Bridgeport. 
A.  G.  H  isaru,  Eniieid. 
M.  R.  Wi'sl.  Staiford. 

E.  Auff   Russell   Middletown. 
C.  M.  Iii^crsol,  New  Haven. 
Wm.  L.  Converse.  Norwich. 
Rufus  L.  llikcr.  Windham. 
James  G  ilh^her.  New  Haven. 
P.  C.  Calhoun,  Brid^'eport. 

RHODE    ISLAND. 

Welcome  B.  Sayies,  Providence. 
Charles  S   Badley,  Providence. 
George  II.  Urow:ie,  Providence. 
John  N.  Francis,  Providence. 
Edward  F.  Newto'i,  Newport. 
Amasa  .Sj.raeve   Providence. 
Gideon  Bradford   Providence. 
Jacob  Babbit,  Bristol. 

NEW    YORK. 

Dean  Rirhnnond,  BufTaln. 

Augustus  Srhcll,  .New  York  city. 

Isaac  V.  Fowler,  N>  w  York  city. 

Delos  DcWuIf  Oswego. 

Wm.  H   Ludlow,  Sayville. 

Tennis  G.  Berge'i,  Bayridge. 

H.  McLaiigh  ii.  Brook  yn. 

Francis  il.  S(jiiiola.  Brooklyn. 

John  Y   Sava.'e,  New  York  city. 

Wm.  Miner,  New  York  city. 

Samuel  L    M.  Barlow,  New  York  city. 

John  (;iaiiry.  New  York  city. 

Isaiah  Rynd  -rs.  New  York  city. 

Edmun  1  Drigss,  Brooklyn. 

John  Cochrane.  New  York  city. 

Auv'usle  B  I'lKint   New  York  ciry. 

Nelson  J    W  iltrbury.  New  York  city. 

Wm.  N    Mc  l:ityro.  N-  w  York  city. 

Edward  Cooper.  New  York  citv. 

Samuel  F.  B  iiterwortli.  New  York  city. 

Gouvenioiir  Kenible.  Cold  Springs. 

Edwin  Crnswcll.  New  York  city. 

Benjamin  F.  Edsatl,  Goshen. 

John  C.  Ilollcy,  Monticello. 

Wm.  F.  Uussell.  Saugortics 

Geo.  Beach    <"airo 

Theodore  Miller   Hudson. 

Henry  Siaais.  Red  Hook. 

David  L    >cMnonr,  Troy. 

Moses  Wirrc  i,  T  rov. 

Em.'ittii  (  iirMiin;,  Albany. 

Potcr  ("a   C'T.  A!   any 

John  Tiiromli.  Waicrford 

Charles  n    Ins  ill<,  Greenwich. 

LoiDuul  Sict;UM   Plaiibburgh. 


Henry  A.  Tilden,  New  Lebanon. 
.Tames  C.  Spencer,  Ogdensburg. 
Loreiiio  Carryl,  Salis  lury. 
Alonzo  C.  Paige,  Schenectady.' 
David  Spraker.  Canajuharie. 
Samuel  North.  Unadilla 
Alexander  il.  Burhans,  Roxbury. 
John  S-ryker.  Home. 
D.  P   Bissel.  Uiica. 
Henry  S.  Randall,  Cortlandville. 
John  F    Hubbard,  jr.,  Norwich. 
Willard  Johnson,  Fulton. 
Sidiiev  'r.  Fairchild,  Cazenovia. 
D.  C.  West  Lowville 
Allen  C.  Beach,  Watertown. 
James  P.  liaskin   Syracuse. 
John  J.  Peck,  Syracuse 
Elmore  P.  Ross,  Auburn. 
John  N.  Knapp.  Auburn. 
Wm.  W.  Wriaht.  Geneva. 
Darius  A   OL;den,  Penn  Yan. 
Henry  D.  Barto,  Trumansburgh. 
Charles  Ilulett,  Horseheads. 
C.  C.  B   Walker,  Corning. 

A.  J.  Abbott,  Genesee. 
S.  B.  Jewett.  Clarkson. 

B.  F.  Gilki  .son,  Rochester. 
Marshall  B   Champ. aiu,  Cuba. 
Heniy  J.  Glowaeki,  Batavia. 
Saiiford  E   Church,  Albion. 
A.  U    Eastman,  Lockport. 
John  T.  Hudson,  BufTalo. 
Alpheus  Prince,  Claience. 
Jolin  C   Devereux.  EUicottville. 
H.  J.  Miner,  Dunkirk. 

NEW  JERSEY. 

William  Wright,  Newark. 
Benjamin  Williamson,  Elizabeth. 
James  W.  Wall  (absent),  Burlin^toi. 
Jolin  C    RafTerty.  New  Germantowo. 
Samuel  Ilaniia,  C».mden. 
John  L.  Sharp.  Milivillc. 
Georse  F.  Fort.  New  E^ypt. 
David  Naar.  Trenton 
Albert  R.  Spter,  New  Brunswick. 
Joshua  Donglity,  SomerviUe. 
Rcibeit  Ilaniilion,  Newton. 
John  Uutjer,  Hackensack. 
Samuel  Westcott,  Jersey  city. 
Jacob  Van  Arsdule,  Newark. 

DELAWAttE. 

John  H.  Beverley,  Smyrna. 
William  il    Ro>s   Sealord. 
James  A.  Ba\ard.  Wilmington. 
John  B   Peiiiiir.gton,  Dover. 
William  G    Whi'cly,  Newcastle. 
William  Saulsbury,  Georgetown. 

MARYLAND. 

John  Contee.  Bnena  Vista. 

William  T.  Hiniilton,  Uagerftown. 

Levi. I  Wdolioid.  Princess  Ann. 

John  R   En  o  y,  Centrcville. 

Wm.  S  (.itii'iK'3.  Baltimore  city. 

Samuel  S    Mallit,  Elklon. 

Cfirville  S   St  insbury.  Stemnor's  Run. 

Wm.  Byrne,  Baltimore  city 

E   L    F.  Hard,  astle.  Roxal  Oak. 

Dai  iol  Ficlil,  Fedi-raJ-sbiirg. 

Robert  J    Brent.  Daltiniure  city. 

T.  M  LinHhaii,  Baltimore  i ity. 

Brad  <  y  J   JoIimsoii.  Frederick  city. 

John  J   Morrison.  Barton. 

<>-eai  M  les.  \  i:esiown. 

Wil.iom  D  Bouio,  I'liuce  Gt  orgo  coauty. 


15 


VIRGINIA. 

Arthur  R.  Smith,  Portsmouth. 

John  J   KitKlreci,  Jerusalem. 

Lewis  E.  (larvie,  Chala. 

V.'iti.  F.  Tliompson,  Crimea. 

William  II.  Clarlj,  Halifax  Court  House. 

Waller  Coles.  Pittsylvania  Court  House. 

Edmund  W.  Hubard,  Curdsville. 

Robcit  H.  Gla.ss,  Lynchburg. 

William  L.  Early.  Madison  Court  House. 

Robert  A.  Cojhill,  New  Glasgow. 

Walter  D.  Leake.  Goochland  Court  House. 

Jas.  Houbs,  Manchester. 

George  Booker.  Hampton. 

M.  W    Fisher.  Eastville. 

Wm.  A  Buckner,  Bowling  Green. 

Henry  T  Garnett.  Oak  Grove. 

James  Harbour.  Brandy  Station. 

John  Seduon.  Fiedericksburg. 

John  Blair  Iloge,  Martinsburg. 

O.  R.  Funsteti,  White  Post. 

S.  .M.  Yost,  Staunton. 

S.  H.  MolVatt.  Harrisonburg. 

Daniel  II.  Ho  e.  Blacksburg. 

James  W.  Davis.  Greenville  Court  House. 

Robe) '  L.  Crockett,  Wytheville. 

William  T.  Cecil,  Tazewell  Court  House. 

Henry  fiizhugh.  Kanawha  Court  House. 

Jolm  tiraniion,  Weston. 

William  G  Brown,  Kingwood. 

Charles  W.  Russell,  Wheeling. 

NORTH  CAROLINA. 

William  W.  Avery,  Morgantown. 
William  S.  Ashe.  Wilmington. 
Bedford  Brown,  Locust  Hill. 
William  H.  Jlolden.  Raleigh. 
William  A   Moore,  Edenton. 
Nicholas  M.  Long,  VVeldon. 
Robeit  R.  Cridgers,  Tarboro'. 
Lotte  W.  Humptirey,  Richland. 
Walter  L.  Steele,  Rockingham. 
James  Fulton,  Wilmington. 
ThonsLS  S   Green.  Warrenton. 
j;  W   B.  Watson,  Smiihlleld. 
Robert  P.  Dick.  Greensboro'. 
Charlef  S.  Winstead,  Roxboro'. 
Samuel  flargrave,  Lexington. 
HamptO!!  B.  Hammond,  Wadesboro'. 
William  Landuis,  Lincolnton. 
Columnus  Mills,  Columbus. 
Henry  T.  Farmer,  Flat  Rock. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

James  .SiTnons,  Charleston. 

Samuiil  :\icvlowan.  Abbeville  Court  House. 

H.  B.  VVilsoii,  Geo  getowu. 

R.  B.  Joylstou,  Wiun.sboro'. 


Solomon  Cohen,  Savannah. 

James  L   Seward,  Thoinasvillo. 

Julian  ilartriclge.  Savannah. 

W.  B.  Gaulden.  Huiitsville. 

W.  J.  Johnson,  Fort  ijaines. 

John  A.  Jones.  Columbus. 

James  M.  Clark,  Lumpkin. 

W   M.  Slaughter.  Albany. 

E.  L.  Stroeckcr,  Macon. 

P.  Tracy,  Macon. 

O.  C.  Gibson,  Griffin. 

E   J.  McGehee.  Perry. 

James  J.  Diamond   Stone  Mountain. 

J.  A   Render,  Greenville. 

Samuel  C.  Charidler,  CarroUton. 

G  J    Fain,  Calhoun 

E.  R.  Hardin,  Dalton. 

James  Hoge,  Atlanta. 

Mark  Johnston,  Cartersville. 

William  H.  Hull,  Athens. 

George  IliUyer.  Monroe. 

A.  A.  Franklin  Hill,  Athens. 

Henry  P.  Tliomas,  LawrenceviUe. 

L   H.  Brisco,  Milledgeville. 

JefF.  Lamar,  Covin. ton, 

J.  W.  Barney,  Monticello. 

James  Tnomas,  Sparta. 

L.  A.  Nelms, 

D.  C.  Barrow,  Lexington. 
H.  Cleveland,  Augusta. 
H.  R.  Casey,  Appiii.g. 

FLORIDA. 

T.  J.  Eppcs,  Apalachicola. 
John  hiiHon,  Mariauna. 

B.  F.  Warcllaw,  Madison  Court  House. 

C.  E.  Dyke.  Talahassee. 
George  L.  Bowne,  Key  West. 
James  B.  Owens,  Ocala. 

ALABAMA. 

F.  S.  Lyon,  Demopolis. 
A.  B.  Meek  Mobile. 

D.  W.  Bayiie,  Hayneville. 
W.  L.  Yancey,  Montgomery. 
L.  A   Lander,  Talladega. 

J.  A.  Winston,  Mobi.e. 

L   P.  Walker,  Huntsville. 

H.  D.  Sraiih,  braveley  Spring* 

G.  G.  Grittin,  Demopolis 
N.  H.  R.  Dawson,  Selma. 
R.  G.  Scott,  Claiborne. 

J    W.  P.nler.  Ncggsvills. 

L.  L.  Cato,  Eufala. 

T.  J.  Burnett,  Greenville. 

J.  R.  Brearc,  Newton. 

M.  J    Bulger,  DadeviUe. 

P.  O.  Harper.  West  Point, 

J,  C.  B,  Mitchell.  Mount,  Meigs. 


J.  H   Wilhcrspoon.  Lancaster  Court  House.    W.  C.  Mclver,  Tu.skeegee. 


E.  W.  Ciiarles,  Darlington  Court  House. 

George  N.  Kejnolds,  Charleston. 

Thomas  Y.  t;imons.  Charleston. 

James  Pattersofi,  Barnwell  Court  House. 

B.  H   Brown,  Barnwell  Court  House. 

Arthui  S  rapkins.  Edgefield  Court  House. 

Lemu.d  B.MZer  Levingtoa  Court  House. 

B.  F.  I'erry._Gri^eiiville. 

J.  P.  Reid.  Aiidejsoii  Court  House. 

John  S.  Pre  ton.  Columbia. 

Franklin  Gaillard,  Columbia. 

GEORGIA. 

Henry  L   B'^nning,  Columbus. 
John  II   Lumpkin,  Rome. 
Isaiah  T   li  ^viii,  Wusliington. 
Henry  R  Jac'tson.  Savannah. 
Juniu-t  Wiii.'ii  'Id   Eiio:iton. 
Hiram  Wdi'iier,  GieeuvUie. 


John  Efwin,  Gnensboiough. 
W.  M.  Brooks,  Marion. 
J.  C   Guild.  Tuscaloosa. 
A,  W.  DiUard,  Livingston. 
F   G    Norman,  Tuscumbia. 
R.  M.  Patron,  Floreu'-e, 
W.  C.  Shcrrod   (;ourlland. 
R.  Cliapman,  Huntsvilie. 
G.  C,  Bradle\,  HuuisviUe. 
T.  B.  Cooper,  (Centre. 
A.  J,  Henry.  Guniers villa. 
T  J,  Bradford,  Talladega. 
W   Garrett,  Bradford. 
V.  G.  King,  Mouievallo. 

MISSISSIPPI. 

W.  S   Barry,  Columbm. 
Ch  irles  C.arkc,  Premiss. 
£.  iiarksdaiC,  Jackson. 


16 


VV.  S.  Wilson,  Port  Gibaon. 
James  Uraiiu,  Uankston. 
Beverly  Matthews,  Culuinbus. 
P.  M.  Thomson,  Houston. 
W.  II   II.  Tison   CarroUvillo. 
Je.seph  R.  Davis,  Cauton. 

C.  E.  Hooker,  Jackson. 
J.  T.  Sims,  Delta. 

D.  C.  Glenu,  Mississippi  city. 
Geo.  li.  Gordon,  WoodviUc. 

ARKANSAS. 

J.  p.  Johnson.  I>aconia. 

T   B.  Flournov,  Laconia. 

N.  Burrows,  Van  Buren. 

F.  A.  Perry,  Waverly  I'o.st  Office. 

Jno.  J.  t^tirinan,  Uardauulle. 

Jno.  A    .Ionian,  South  Kend. 

Van  11    Maniiiiif;,  Hamburg. 

F.  W  .  Uoadley,  Little  Kock. 

KKNTCCKT. 

G.  A.  Caldwell,  LouisyiUe. 
D.  P.  White,  (irceusburg. 
J.  0.  Masou.  Owingsville. 
K.  K.  \VilIiaiii.><.  .May  field. 
Wm.  Bradlfv,  >lailii=onville. 
G.  H.  Morrow,  I'uducah. 
l^afavctte  Green,  Falls  of  Rough 
S.  B.'  Oreentield,  HopkinsTille. 
G.  T    Wood,  MuufordSTill*. 

J.  A.  Finn,  Franklin. 

S.  B.  Field,  Columbia. 

John  S.  Kiudrirk.  Somersett. 

K.  Spalding,  Lebanon. 

W.  B.  Read,  Hodgesville. 

John  Di.«huian,  liarbourrille. 

Colbert  Cecil,  Piketon. 

Wm   Garvin,  Louii^ville. 

S.  E.  Dehaven.  LaGrange. 

11.  M.  Johnson,  White  Sulphur. 

.1.  B.  Beck,  Islington. 

N".  Green,  New  Liberty. 

II.  McKi'c,  lx)iii^ville. 

H.  D.  Helm,  Newport. 

R.  P.  Butler,  Carrolton. 

TENNESSEE. 

.Andrew  Ewing,  Nashville. 
John  U.  Howard,  Lebanon. 
J.  D.  r.  Atkin.«,  Paris, 
.■'amuel  Milligun,  Greenville 
Wm.  Henry  Maxwell,  Jonesboro'. 
John  D.  Kiley,  Rogcrsville. 
Thomoo  M.  Lyon,  Knoxvillo. 
W.  E.  B.  Joii<!8,  Livingston.) 
George  W.  Rowlc8,  Cleveland. 
William  Wallace,  Maryville. 
David  Bunfurd,  Uixon  Springs. 
James  M.  Sheid,  .Manchester. 
John  McUavock,  Franklin. 
Janie<  M.  .\vpnt,  Murfreesboro'. 
Robert  Matthews,  Shelbyville. 
W,  L    McClelland,  Lcwisburg. 
Thomas  VV.  Jones,  Pulaski. 
W.  C.  Whitthorne.  Columbia. 
Alfreil  Robb,  Clarksville. 
Thomas  Menee.o,  Springfield. 
Wm.  H.  Wall,  Paris. 
Jainp.«  (  on  nor,  Kipley. 
Wm.  H.  Carriil,  Memphis. 
Samuel  McClooahau,  Jackson. 

MISSOURI. 

.1.  B.  Henderson,  Ix>ulsiaoa. 

W.  J    W.  Mcllhany,  St.  Charles 

K.  F.  I^ikuman,  Hannibal. 

O    A.  Shorlridge.  BliK.mington. 

John  B.  Clark,  Washington  City,  I).  C, 


Austin  A.  King,  Richmond. 

George  P.  Dorris,  Platte  city. 

James  Crai^;,  St.  Joseph. 

Wm.  Douglass,  Boonville. 

N.  C.  Claiborne,  Kansas  city. 

P.  S.  Wilkes   Springfield. 

J.  A.  Scott,  Elk  .MilU. 

C.  G.  Corwin,  Jefferson  city. 

J.  F.  Meuse.  Wa.'ihington,  Franklin  couoty. 

A.  Hunter,  Benton. 

John  O'Fallon,  jr.,  Sulphur  Springs. 

John  M.  Krum,  St   Louis. 

Sum   B.  Ihurcbill,  St.  Louis. 


A.  C.  Dodge,  Burlington. 

B.  M.  Suniueli:,  Dubuque. 
D.  0.  Fincli,  Des  Moines. 
Wm.  H.  Merritt,  Cedar  Rapids. 
T.  W.  Claggftt,  Keokuk. 

J.  W.  Rosier,  Sioux  City. 
£.  H  Thaver,  Mu.<icatine. 
W.  II.  M.  Pusey,  Council  Blufls. 

WISCONSIN. 

John  R.  Sharpstein.  Milwaukee. 
Alex.  S.  Palmer,  Geneva. 
Alex.  F.  Pratt,  Waukesha. 
Wm.  A.  Barstow.  Jane^viite. 
James  U.  Earnest,  ShuUburgh. 
Charles  Whipple,  Eau  Claire. 
Perry  U.  Smith,  Appleton. 
Frederick  ^^'.  Horn,  Cedarbnrg. 
Ell  ward  S.  Bragg,  ti.nd  Du  Lac. 
John  Fitzgerald,  Oshkosh. 

MINNESOTA. 

W.  A.  Germans,  St.  Paul. 
George  L.  Becker,  St.  PauL 
Henry  H    Sibly,  .Mendnta. 
A.  J.  Edgertou,  Mantorville. 
A.  M.  Fridley,  St.  Anthony. 
J.  Travis  Ko.>i(^er,  Mauk-ito. 
W".  W.  Phelps,  Red  Wiug. 


S.  S.  Marshall.  McLeansboro'. 
0.  B.  Ficklin.  Charleston. 
W.  A.  Richardson,  Quincy. 
R.  T.  Merrick,  Chicago. 
Wm   M.  Jackson,  Union. 
John  D.  Piatt,  W.irren. 
John  B.  Turner,  Chicago. 
A    M.  Herrington,  Geneva. 
AUeu  Withers.  Bloomiagton. 
R.  E.  Goodell,  .loliet. 
B.  S.  Prettyman.  Pekin. 
K.  Hollowav,  .Monmouth. 
W.  H.  RolUu-on,  Dallas  city. 
James  M.  Campbell,  Macomb. 
Murry  .McCouncIl,  Jacksonville. 
Wm.  F.  Thornton,  Shelbyville. 
Aaron  Shaw,  LawrencevUle. 
W.  F.  Under,  Chicago. 
S.  A.  Buckmaster,  Alton. 
Z.  Casey,  .Mount  Vernon. 
W.  J.  Allen,  Marion. 
W.  II.  Qreen,  Metropolis. 

OHIO. 

Geo.  W.  McCook,  Steub«nville. 
Geo.  ¥..  Pugh,  I  incinnati. 
D.  P.  Rhode.i,  Cleveland. 
\Vaj<hington  .Mclx-an,  Cincinnati. 
Henry  B.  Bowumn,  Cincinnati. 
Charles  RuU-.  tlincinnati. 
Wesley  .M.  Cameron,  Cincinnati. 
William  T.  Knrre.<t,  Cincinnati. 
A.  P.  Miller,  llamlltoii. 


17 


George  W.  Honk,  Dayton. 

Sabirt  Scott,  St.  Mary's. 

Joshua  TowusenJ,  Greenville. 

James  B.  Sfeedman,  Toledo. 

Wm.  Mungen,  Findlay. 

J.  B.  Cockerill,  West  Union. 

T.  C.  Kennedy,  Batavia. 

Durbin  Ward,  Lebanon. 

W.  M.  Stnrk,  Xenia. 

George  Spence,  Springfield. 

R.  E.  Ilunkle,  West  Liberty. 

Edward  F.  Dickinson,  Fremont. 

Abner  M.  Jackson,  Bucyrua. 

Thomas  McNalley,  Chilicothe. 

Wells  A.  Hutchins,  Portsmouth. 

Lot  L.  Smich,  Athens. 

E.  F.  Bingham,  McArthur. 

Wayne  Griswold,  Circleville. 

Geo.  B.  Smith,  Newark. 

Thomas  W   Bartley,  Mansfield. 

John  Tifft,  Norwalk. 

J.  A.  Marchand,  Wooster. 

J.  P.  Jeffries,  Wooster. 

J.  G  Stewart,  Coshocton. 

R.  H.  Nugen,  Newcomerstown. 

S.  R.  Hosmer,  Zanesville. 

W.  W.  Cones,  Cincinnati. 

J.  S.  ^^■ay,  Woodsfield. 

W.  Eaton,  Morristown. 

S.  Lahm,  Canton. 

S.  D  Uarris,  jr.,  Ravenna. 

H.  B.  Payne,  Cleveland. 

J.  W.  Gray,  Cleveland. 

David  Tod",  Brier  Hill. 

D.  B.  Woods,  Warren. 

Thomas  S.  Woods,  New  Lisbon. 

B.  F.  Potts,  CarroUton. 


E.  M  Huntington,  Terre  Haute. 

S.  H   Buskirk,  Bloomington. 

Robert  Lowry,  Goshen 

James  B    Foley,  Greensburgh. 

John  S.  Gavitt,  Evansville. 

Smith  Miller,  Patoka 

J.  B   Norman.  New  Albany. 

S.  K.  Wolfe,  Corydon. 

P.  C   Dunning,  Bloomington. 

H.  W.  Harrington,  Madison. 

J.  V   Eemusdaffer,  Greensburgh. 

John  Anderegg,  Lawrenceburgh. 

Lafe  Devlin,  Cambridge  t  ity. 

Edmund  .lohn.>-on,  Newcastle. 

W.  H.  Talbot,  Indianapolis. 

J.  M   Gregg,  Danville. 

E.  Read,  Terre  Haute. 

H.  K.  Wilson,  Sullivan. 

L  B.  Stockton,  Lafayette. 

Lsaac  C.  Ellston.  Crawfordsville. 

G.  Hathaway,  Lap'  rre. 

S.  A  Hall,  Loganiiport. 


P.  Hoagland,  Fort  Wayne. 
G.  W.  Mc'Connell,  Angola. 
Wm.  Garver,  Noblesville. 
John  R.  Caffrotb,  Huntington. 


E.  LaSere,  New  Orleans, 

E.  Lawrence,  New  Orleans. 

F.  H    Hatch,  New  Orleans. 
A.  Talbot.  Iberville 

R.  A.  Hunter,  Alexandria- 
Richard  Taylor.  St.  Charles  Parish. 
D   D    Withers,  New  Orleans 
John  Tarlton,  Bayou  Bueff,  St.  Mary's  Parish. 
Charles  Jones,  Trinity. 
B    W'.  Pearce,  Sparta,  Bienville  Parish.] 
A.  Mouton,  Vermilionville. 
James  A.  IdLcHatton,  Baion  Rouge. 

TEXAS. 

H.  R.  Runnels,  Boston. 
E  Greer,  Marshall. 
Thos   P.  Ochiltree,  Marshall. 
M.  \Y   Covey,  Jeffer.«on. 
F.  R.  Lubbock,  Houston. 
Guy  M   Bryan,  Galveston. 
Josiah  F.  Crosby,  El  Pa.so. 
F.  S.  Stockdale,  l^ort  Lavaca. 


George  V.  N.  Lothrop,  Detroit. 
Charles  E.  Stuart,  Kalamazoo. 
H   H.  Riley,  Constantine. 
George  W.  Peck,  Lan.'ing, 
Benj.  Follett,  Ypsilanti. 
Fidus  Livermore.  Jackson. 
John  G.  Parkhurst,  Coldwater. 
Philo  Wilson,  <  anandaigua. 
Franklin  Muzzv,  Niles. 
Alex   F.  Bell,  Detroit. 
Augustus  0    Baldwin,  Pontiac. 
William  S.  Bancroft,  Port  Huron. 


Lansing  Stout,  Washington,  D.  C. 
J.  R   Lamerick,  .'acksouville. 
Isaac  J.  Stevens,  Washington,  D.  0. 
Justus  Steinberger,  Washington,  D.  C. 
R.  B   Metcalfe,  Independence,  Texas. 
A  P.  Dennison,  The  Dalles,  Oregon. 

CALIFORNIA. 

J.  Bidwell,  Chico 
G.  W.  Patrick,  Sonora. 
Lewis  R   Bradley.  Stockton. 
Austin  E   Smith,  San  Francisco. 
John  A   Dreibellis,  Shasta. 
John  S    Dudley.  Yreka. 
John  Rains,  Los  Augelos. 
D.  S.  Gregory,  Monterey. 


18 


FIRST    DAY. 

The  opening  Scenes — T/te  Actors  in  the  First  Fight — John  Cochrane 
—  William  A,  Richardson — E.  Burksdale — Walker  of  Alabama — 
Clark  oj  Missouri — Butler  of  Massachusetts . 

Institute  IIai.l,      | 
Charltston,  8.  C.  April  23d.  j 

The  hour  appointed  for  the  meeting  of  the  Convention  was  at  twelve, 
M.  About  eleven  a  delightful  shower  came  up.  which  was  quite  wel- 
come, for  the  country  has  been  suffering  excessively  from  drouth,  and 
the  air  was  full  of  the  hot  dust  of  the  streets.  Orders  were  issued  that 
the  doors  should  not  be  opened  until  twelve  o'clock.  That  hour  has 
passed.  Tho  reporters  are  at  their  places,  with  piles  of  paper  and 
bunches  of  pencils  sharpened  at  both  ends.  A  boy  is  waiting,  ready 
to  run  to  the  telegraph  office  with  dispatches.  The  delegates  are  pour- 
ing in  and  finding  their  places.  About  a  dozen  ladies  occupy  seats  in 
the  gallery,  looking  down  with  critical  interest  on  the  seething  mass  be- 
low. One-third  of  the  space  in  the  galleries  is  allotted  to  the  ladies, 
and  the  remaining  two-thirds  to  the  outsiders,  whose  occupation  is  the 
manufacture  of  public  opinion.  Each  delegation  has  a  certain  number 
of  tickets  for  distribution  among  outsiders.  They  admit  the  holders  in- 
to the  gallery.  The  hall  is  far  more  spacious,  better  ventilated,  and 
better  arranged  than  that  in  which  the  Convention  was  held  four  years 
ago.  The  delegates  are  in  groups  all  over  the  floor,  talking  and  gestic- 
ulating as  in  all  other  conventions.  The  scene  is  very  much  like  that 
in  the  Hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives  on  the  opening  da}'  of  a 
se.ssion  of  Congress.  The  men  who,  by  their  position  upon  the  Execu- 
tive committee  appointed  at  Cincinnati,  have  to  initiate  proceedings,  are 
Judge  Smalley,  of  Vermont,  Chairman,  and  C.  L.  Vallandigham,  Sec- 
retary. Judge  Smalley  arises  and  calls  the  Convention  to  order.  He 
states  the  business  of  the  Convention  with  the  utmost  simplicity,  omit- 
ting, as  was  agreeable  to  every  body,  the  opportunity  afforded  of  mak- 
ing an  "  able  and  eloquent"  speech.  He  calls  for  the  nomination  of  a 
President,  pro  tern.  Mr.  Flournoy  of  Arkansas  was  nominated  by 
McCook  of  Ohio.  There  was  no  opposition.  A  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  escort  him  to  the  chair.  Pie  stated  upon  assuming  the  chair 
that  he  should  exert  himself  to  produce  a  speedy  organization  of  that 
body.  As  an  earnest  of  his  intention  to  proceed  to  business,  he  sat 
down.  Thus  two  opportunities  to  make  speeches  were  irrevocably  lost. 
Mr.  Flournoy  is  a  gentleman  at  least  six  feet  two  inches  in  height,  and 
would  weigh  two  hundred  and  thirty  pounds.  He  is  a  splendid  speci- 
men of  physical  manhood,  but  is  not  troubled  with  too  much  brain. 
The  next  thing  In  order  is  a  written  sermon  in  the  form  of  a  prayer. 
Some  portly,  white-headed,  red-faced  and  gold-spectacled  parson,  from 
the  South,  being  called  upon  for  a  prayer,  proceeds  to  recite  one  which 
he  has  written  down  and  pasted  in  the  cover  of  a  book  for  tho  occasion. 
There  are  not  ten  men  in  tho  house  who  can  hear  what  he  says — and 
the  fine,  old,  fat  clergyman  is  pronounced  an  unmitigated  bore.  His 
solemn  tone  is  worse   than   a  stump   speech  would   have   been  from  the 


19  » 

rostrum.  In  case  of  the  speech  we  might  have  had  a  few  rabble-rous- 
ing sentences.  As  it  is  we  have  only  a  noise  that  is  in  the  usual  into- 
nation of  prayer.  A  Virginia  delegate  arises  and  makes  a  nomina- 
tion of  temporary  secretary. 

It  already  appears  that  the  hall  is  one  in  which  it  will  be  almost  im- 
possible to  hear  what  is  said.  The  street  in  front  of  the  hall  is  paved 
with  bowlders  (Cincinnati  fashion),  and  the  incessant  clatter  of  the 
wheels  is  deafening. 

Mr.  Fisher  of  Virginia  tried  to  introduce  a  resolution,  and  to  read 
before  introducing  that  resolution.  It  was  well  understood  that  this 
was  a  resolution  respecting  the  contested  seats  of  New  York.  John 
Cochrane  rose  to  a  point;  of  order.  An  Alabamian  and  a  Mississippian 
pitched  in.  Fisher  of  Virginia  appealed  from  the  decision  of  the  chair, 
who  had  ruled  him  out  of  order.  The  chair  was  sustained  by  a  roaring 
aye.  Another  struggle  took  place  as  to  which  should  be  appointed 
first :  the  committee  on  Credentials  or  on  Organization.  The  object  of 
the  ultra  Southerners  was  to  exclude  Illinois  and  New  York  from  the 
committee  on  Credentials  and  Organization.  Ilichard.-?on  of  Illinois, 
and  Cochrane  of  New  York,  disclaimed  any  desire  to  participate  in  the 
committee  on  Credentials.  They  were  not  disposed,  however,  to  give 
up  their  places  in  the  committee  on  Organization.  In  the  course  of  the 
struggle  on  this  point,  it  became  evident  that  the  weight  of  the  outsid- 
ers was  for  the  Douglas  delegation  from  Illinois,  and  the  Cassidy,  Rich- 
mond, Cagger,  John  Cochrane  and  Co.  delegation  from  New  York. 
At  last  the  Convention  came  to  a  vote  on  a  proposition  that  the  commit- 
tees on  Credentials  and  Organization  should  be  simultaneously  appoint- 
ed, the  committeemen  on  Credentials  from  Illinois  and  New  Yoik  not 
having  authority  to  vote  on  the  contested  cases  of  their  own  States. 
The  vote  was  taken  by  States.  The  proposition  was  affirmed,  Virginia, 
Louisiana,  Texas,  Arkansas,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and  half  of  Cali- 
fornia, voting  no.  Mr.  Fisher  of  Virginia  protested  in  behalf  of  his 
State  against  the  record,  because  the  vote  of  New  York,  the  delegates' 
seats  being  contested,  hnd  been  taken.  A  resolution  was  offered  by  a 
Mississippian,  that  the  New  York  and  Illinois  delegations  be  requested 
not  to  take  part  in  the  proceedings  until  the  committee  on  Crtdentials 
had  reported,  and  the  contests  had  been  settled.  Payne  of  Ohio 
moved  to  lay  this  resolution  on  the  table.  A  vote  was  taken  by  States 
on  Payne's  motion,  and  it  prevailed  by  a  heavy  majority.  This  is  a 
vote  which  indicates  that  the  Fernando  Wood  and  Cook  delegations 
will  have  to  remain  outside  the  Convention.  Richardson  of  Illinois 
pronounced  the  contest  in  his  State,  the  most  frivolous  and  contemptible 
ever  heard  of.  The  committees  were  appointed,  and  the  Convention 
adjourned.  The  noise  of  wheels  on  the  streets  was  so  great,  that  saw- 
dust is  to  be  heaped  in  front  of  the  hall,  to  deaden  the  clamor. 

The  ultra-South  was  guilty  of  a  very  foolish  thing  to-day.  They  made 
a  bitter  fight  on  a  question,  when  there  was  no  possible  chance  of  doing 
any  thing.  The  Convention  was  against  them  six  to  one,  and  yet  thej 
struggled  with  as  much  energy  as  if  they  expected  to  accomplish  some- 
thing wonderful.  In  this  way  they  lost  prestige  in  the  Convention. 
They  threw  themselves  away  without  sufficient  cause.     If  they  continue 


t  20 

this  style  of  performance  Douglas  will  be  the  nominee  at  last.  I  con- 
sider his  chances  augmented  by  the  proceedings  to-day.  The  ike  Cook 
and  Feraando  Wood  movement  was  in  the  preliminary  stages  utterly 
overthrown.  Several  of  the  .scenes  of  the  fight  were  highly  entertain- 
ing. Mr.  Fisher,  of  Virginia,  was  picked  out  to  make  the  onslaught. 
He  is  a  slight  gentleman,  with  a  thin  face  and  high,  bald  head,  small 
voice  on  a  high  key,  and  more  zeal  than  discretion.  He  was  aljout  to 
have  a  ctiniiiiunication  read,  whicli  every  budy  knew  was  in  reference  to 
the  New  York  contest,  when  a  point  of  order  was  rai.-^eii  ujnm  him  by 
John  Cochrane,  of  New  York,  who  is  the  brains  of  the  Cagger-Cassidy 
delegation,  a  man  of  high  order  of  ability,  an  accomplished  and  forcible 
public  speaker,  an  old  bachelor,  and  a  man  of  the  world.  He  is  perfedly 
at  home  in  a  parliamentary  figlit,  and  has  a  splendid  voice,  which  in  a 
noi.«y  convention  is  a  gift,  when  coupled  with  brass,  of  the  highest  value. 
Cochrane  is  a  large  but  not  a  big  man,  full  in  the  region  of  the  vest, 
wears  all  his  beard,  which  is  coiiri<e  and  sandy,  trimmed  short,  and  is 
bald — a  blemish  which  he  attempts  to  conceal  by  combing  the  hair  that 
remains  at  the  sides  over  the  barren  region.  His  countenance  is  bold, 
but  not  amiable,  and  there  are  a.ssurances  in  his  complexion  that  he  is 
what  is  known  as  a  generous  liver.  In  fact,  he  looks  as  though  it  would 
require  a  very  strong  cup  of  coffee  to  bring  him  into  condition  in  the 
morninw.  He  is  a  fair  type  of  the  fast  man  of  intellect  and  culture,  of 
the  city  of  New  York,  who.se  ambition  is  to  figure  in  politics.  He  is  in 
Conoress,  as  most  of  our  readers  know,  and  can  command  the  ear  of  the 
House  at  any  time.  His  great  troul)lc  is  his  Free  Soil  Record.  He 
had  a  very  violent  attack  of  Free  Soil  opinions  some  years  ago.  He 
took  Free  Soilism  like  a  distemper,  and  mounted  the  Buffalo  platfurm. 
He  is  well  over  it  now,  however,  with  the  exception  of  a  single  heresy  : 
that  of  the  Homestead  law.  He  is  for  giving  homesteads  to  the  actual 
settlers  upon  the  public  land.  He  appeared  to  much  advantage  in  the 
Convention  to-day,  and  his  sonorous  voice,  imposing  manner  and  parlia- 
mentary tactics  told  with  great  force. 

Richardson  of  Hlint)is  made  one  of  his  earnest^toned  .speeches,  vin- 
dicating the  Douglas  delegation  from  Illinois.  The  Douglas  men  w»)uld 
not  know  what  to  do  without  him.  From  appearances,  though  there  are 
several  gentlemen  ambitious  to  lead  the  Douglas  forces  in  this  war, 
Richardsun  will  overbear  them  all.  He  is  a  large,  coarse,  powerful  man, 
with  a  harsh  but  distinct  voice  that  is  heard  al)ove  the  clamor  of  a  Con- 
vention, like  a  fiie-bell  over  the  clatter  of  engines  in  the  street.  He 
evidently  felt  that  there  was  a  critical  time  to-day,  whether  there  was  one 
or  not,  and  was  stalking  up  and  down  among  the  Douglas  delegations, 
his  forehead  furrowed  with  heavy  wrinkles,  his  face  glowing,  his  shirt- 
collar  wilted  down,  his  coat-cuffs  rolled  half-way  up  to  his  elbows,  a  palm- 
leaf  fan  in  his  hand  which  he  used  spasmodically;  and  as  he  moved 
about,  he  pulled  the  wires  here  and  there,  encouraging  this  man  to  pitch 
in  and  that  one  to  subside.  When  he  spoke  he  conunanded  universal 
attention.  And  1  venture  to  guess  that  whenever  his  broad  shoulders, 
shaggy  head  and  broad-a.\e  nose  is  seen  above  the  throng,  and  his  voice 
is  heard  he  will  have  attention,  for  he  is  the  strong  man  of  tlie  North- 
west, and  a  representative  man,  too.     I  remember  well    how  he  bore 


21 

himself  in  the  crisis  of  the  Cincinnati  Convention,  when  Buchanan 
having  a  majority  vote,  the  dispatch  from  DougLis  directed  to  Rich- 
ardson wos  read,  withdrawing  his  name.  Richardson's  behavior  was 
very  manly  then.  And  now,  if  Douglas  should  get  a  majority  vote, 
Richardson  will  revive  the  recollection  of  the  scene  which  I  have  just 
mentioned,  and  demand  the  same  consideration  for  Douglas  that  he 
showed  Buchanan.  It  is  likely  that  Buchanan  would  have  been  nomi- 
nated at  any  rate,  but  the  Douglas  dispatch  and  Richardson's  speech 
make  up  a  precedent  that  the  Douglasites  will  be  happy  to  put  to  the 
Convention.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  whether  they  ever  get  that  far. 
They  will,  however,  if  the  South  does  not  behave  better  than  she  did 
to-day. 

The  spokesman  of  Mississippi  was  E.  Barksdale,  editor  of  the  Mis- 
sissippian,  and  brother  of  the  Congressman.  He  is  not  so  large  a  man 
as  his  brother,  but  has  more  brains.  He  is  hardly  up  to  the  middle 
size,  but  is  well  put  together,  wiry,  and  active  as  a  cat.  He  has  not  a 
good  voice  for  a  turbulent  crowd,  as  it  is  rather  sharp  and  wants  body; 
but  he  is  "game  to  the  backbone,"  as  they  say.  His  face  would  in- 
dicate a  man  of  unusual  amiability,  if  it  were  not  for  the  sarcasm  in 
his  smile,  and  a  mischievous  glimmer  in  his  eye.  He  is,  perhaps,  the 
most  fierce  of  the  fire-eaters,  but  did  not  exhibit  any  very  striking  qual- 
ities as  a  tactician  to-day. 

The  most  conspicuous  of  those  who  resisted  the  current  of  the  day 
was  Walker  of  Alabama,  a  tall,  gentlemanly  man,  with  long  pale  face 
and  high  forehead,  whose  health  is  feeble,  and  who  so  exhausted  him- 
self in  forcing  the  chair  and  the  Convention  to  hear  him,  that  he  had 
not  much  to  say  when  he  had  the  ear  of  the  Convention.  He  was  de- 
termined not  to  be  chocked  down.  At  first  he  stood  upon  his  chair, 
and  the  noise  being  so  great  that  he  could  not  be  heard,  he  took  a  posi- 
tion in  front  of  the  seats  on  the  vacant  space  between  the  Convention 
and  the  chair,  and  finally  mounted  the  Secretary's  desk  near  the  plat- 
form upon  which  the  chairman  sits,  and  the  Convention  seeing  that  he 
would  occupy  the  time  until  heard  at  every  hazard,  consented  to  bear 
him. 

Clark  of  Missouri  pushed  himself  into  the  fight,  and  seemed  to  have 
a  mission  to  perform,  which  the  Convention  could  not  appreciate.  He 
would  have  some  qualities  of  a  strong  speaker  if  his  words  had  not  a 
way  of  becoming  bungled  in  his  mouth,  and  coming  out  in  confusion, 
and  in  a  mutilated  condition.  I  imagine  Clark  had  a  notion  that  he 
would  be  able  to  save  the  fire-eater-s  from  the  blunder  they  were  com- 
mitting in  making  hopeless  fight.  But  he  was  incapable  of  curbing 
them.  Mr.  Clark  is  the  man  who  introduced  the  Helper  book  resolu- 
tif»n  into  the  Hou.se  in  December  last,  and  to  whom  Helper  sent  a  copy 
of  his  affectionate  production,  bound  in  Ru.ssia.  A  little  old  dapper, 
comical  fellow  from  Pennsylvania,  tried  several  times  to  "  put  in  his 
jaw  "  when  it  was  evident  he  had  nothing  to  say,  and  would  be  in(;om- 
petent  to  say  any  thing  if  he  had  occasion  to  do  so.  It  may  be  im- 
proper to  print  profane  language,  but  the  desire  which  possesses  me  to 
give  the  spirit  of  this  Convention,  induces  me  to  say  that  several  heart- 
less  wretches  said  to  the  little  old   dapper  gentleman  :     "G — d 


00 


you,  sit  down  " — and  that  guch  questions  were  put  to  him  as,  "  What 
the  hell  do  you  want  to  talk  for?  " 

All  persons  who  attended  the  Cincinnati  Convention,  will  remember 
the  hald-headed  and  rampant  Butler  of  MasMachusetta.  He  is  here. 
He  8[)ringi'  to  his  feet  with  wonderful  quickness,  and  rips  out,  "  Mr. 
Chairman,"  in  a  tone  like  the  sound  of  a  file  on  a  cross-cut  saw,  and 
with  a  gesture  as  if  he  proposed  to  stab  the  pre.-iding  officer,  if  he  did 
not  devote  his  attention  instantly  to  "  the  gentleman  from  Massachu- 
setts." 

Butler  was  one  of  the  Free  Soil  Democracy  of  Massachusetts,  who 
elected,  by  a  cialition  with  ultras,  the  Hon.  Charles  Sumner  to  the  U. 
S.  Senate.  He,  like  John  Cochrane,  has  repented.  He  is  pro-slavery 
as  possible,  and  the  little,  brown  moustache  under  his  sharp,  crooked 
nose,  would  curl  with  wrath  if  he  should  be  reminded  of  his  record. 
He  admits  that  he  had  a  Free-soil  attack^a  sort  of  political  mcasels — 
but  considers  himself  all  the  better  for  having  recovered  from  it. 

Yancey  of  Alabama,  the  leader  of  the  ultras,  was  evidently  aware 
that  his  friends  were  doing  a  foolish  thing  to-day.  He  took  no  part  in 
the  squabble,  but  it  is  understood  that  he  has  a  vast  amount  of  ammuni- 
tion for  a  bombardment  of  the  Douglas  castle,  ready  for  use  when  the 
decks  are  cleared  for  action,  and  the  occasion  when  it  will  be  worth 
while  to  make  a  fight,  shall  have  arrived. 

The  first  vote  taken  by  States  was  on  a  proposition  submitted  by  Mr. 
Cessna  of  Pennsylvania,  looking  to  the  simultaneous  appointment  of 
the  committees  on  Credentials  and  Organization,  and  providing  that 
"  in  determining  the  controversy  in  regard  to  the  disputed  seats  from 
the  State  of  Illinois,  the  member  of  the  committee  on  Credentials  from 
that  State  shall  not  be  permitted  to  vote  thereon.  And  in  determining 
the  cuntrover.-y  from  the  State  of  New  York,  the  member  of  the  com- 
mittee from  that  State  shall  not  be  permitted  to  vote  thereon." 

The  vote  stood  : 

States.  Veas.      Xai/s.         Sl/ites.  Yeas.  Nays. 

Maine 8  0  Indiana i:^  0 

New  Hampshire o  0  lUinois 11  0 

Vermont   5  0  Ohio 23  0 

Maiv-^achusetts 13  0  Mississippi 0  7 

Rhode;  Island 4  0  Texas 0  4 

Coumclicut a  0  Florida 3  0 

New  Ji-rst-y    7  U  Tennessee 12  0 

Peunsylvania 27  0  Kentucky 12  0 

Delaware 3  0  Wisconsin    .'i  0 

Maryland 8  0  Iowa 4  0 

New  York 35  0  Michigan G  0 

Virffinia 0  15  Arkansas 0  4 

North  (Jarolina 10  0  California 2  2 

South  Carolina 8  0  Oreiion 3  0 

Georgia   10  0  Minnesota 4  0 

Alaliania 0  U  — 

Louisiana 0  (>  25G  47 

Mitwouri 9  0 

And  thus  extreme  Southernism  (Cotton  Stateism)  first  placed  itself 
on  the  record  of  the  Convention. 


23 

The  committees  appointed  were  as  follows : 

Committee  on  Credentials. — C.  D.  Jameson,  Maine  ;  A.  P.  Hugliep, 
New  Hampshire  ;  Stephen  Thomas,  Vermont;  Oliver  Stephens,  Massa- 
chusetts ;  George  H.  Brown,  Rhode  Island  ;  James  Gallagher,  Connec- 
ticut;  Delos  De  Wolfe,  New  York ;  A.  R.  Speer,  New  Jersey ;  H.  M. 
North,  Pennsylvania;  "Wm.  G.  Whiteley,  Delaware;  W.  S.  Gittings, 
Maryland;  E.  W.  Hubbard,  Virginia;  R.  R.  Bridges,  North  Caroli- 
na; B.  F.  Perry,  South  Carolina;  J.  Hartridge,  Georgia;  W.  M. 
Brooks,  Alabama;  W.  S.  Barry,  Mississippi;  F.  H.  Hatch,  Louisiana; 
James  B.  Stedman,  Ohio;  G.  T.  Wood,  Kentucky;  W.  H.  Carroll, 
Tennessee;  S.  A.  Hall,  Indiana;  W.  J.  Allen,  Illinois;  John  M. 
Krum,  Missouri;  Van  H.  Manning,  Arkansas;  Benjamin  Follett, 
Michigan  ;  C.  E.  Djke,  Florida  ;  E.  Grier,  Texas  ;  D.  O.  Finch,  Iowa; 
P.  H.  Smith,  Wisconsin;  John  S.  Dudley,  California;  H.  H.  Sibley, 
Minnesota  ;  Lansing  Stout,  Oregon. 

Committee  on  Organisation. — W.  H.  Burrill,  Maine ;  R.  S.  Web- 
ster, New  Hampshire  ;  H.  E.  Stoughton,  Vermont;  C.  W.  Chapin, 
Massachusetts  ;  John  N.  Francis,  Rhode  Island  ;  A.  C.  Lippett,  Con- 
necticut; S.  F.  Fairchild,  New  York;  Robert  Hamilton,  New  Jersey; 
J.  Cessna,  Pennsylvania;  J.  B.  Pennington,  Delaware;  John  R.  Em- 
ory, Maryland;  John  Brannon,  Virginia;  W.  A.  Mole,  North  Caroli- 
na ;  B.  H.  Wilson,  South  Carolina  ;  J.  H.  Lumpkin,  Georgia  ;  A.  B. 
Meek,  Alabama;  Charles  Clark,  Mississippi;  T.  J.  Eppes,  Florida ; 
Emile  LaSere,  Louisiana;  F.  R.  Lubbock,  Texas ;  John  J.  Stirman, 
Arkansas;  S.  D.  Churchill,  Missouri;  T.  M.  Jones,  Tennessee;  C. 
Cecil,  Kentucky;  George  W.  Houk,  Ohio;  S.  K.  Wolf,  Indiana;  A. 
M.  Harrington,  Illinois;  A.  C.  Baldwin,  Michigan;  E.  S.  Bragg, 
Wisconsin;  E.  H.  Thayer,  Iowa;  J.  T.  Rosser,  Minnesota;  G.  W. 
Patrick,  California ;  John  K.  Lamerick,  Oregon. 


SECOND   DAY. 

MORNINO    SESSION. 

Institute  Hall,  April  24th. 
There  is  an  impression  prevalent  this  morning  that  the  Convention  is 
destined  to  explode  in  a  grand  row.  The  best  informed  and  most  dis- 
passionate men  are  unable  to  see  how  such  a  termination  of  this  party 
congress  can  be  avoided.  The  Southern  delegates  last  night,  in  caucus 
assembled,  resolved  to  stand  by  the  Jeff.  Davis  resolutions.  There  is 
tumult  and  war  in  prospect.  The  first  thing  in  order  after  calling  the 
Convention  to  order,  was  the  report  of  the  committee  on  Permanent 
Organization,  made  by  Mr.  Cessna  of  Pennsylvania,  its  chairman,  as 
follows : 


24 


FOR  presfiiext: 
Hon.  CALEB  CUSHING.  of  Mass. 

FOR    VICE-PRKSIDENT8    ANI>  SECRETAKIEH. 

Maii.e. 
Vice-President— Thomaa  D.  Robiosoa. 
Secretary — C.  Reconl. 

New  IJampxhire. 
Vice-President— Daniel  Marcy. 
Secretary — George  A.  Binj^hauo. 

Vermont. 
Vice-President — Jasper  Rand. 
Secretary — P.  W.  Hyde. 

Massachusetts. 
Vice-President — Isaac  Davia 
Secretary— B.  F.  Watson. 

Rhode  Island. 
Vice-President — Gideon  Bradford. 
Secretary — Amasa  Spragne. 

Connecting. 

Vice-President — Samuel  Arnold. 
Secretary — M.  R.  West. 

i\«t*  Jersey. 
Vice-President — Wm.  Wri(i;ht. 
Secretary — Jobn  C.  RaHerty. 

New   York. 
Vice-President — Erastus  Corning. 
Secretary — Edward  Cooper. 

ren)\sylvama. 
Vice-President — Thomas  Cunruiigliam. 
Secretary — Franklin  Vansaut. 

Delaware. 
Vice-President — W.  H.  Ross. 
Secretary — Jobn  H.  Buley. 

Manjlind. 
Vicf^President — W.  P.  Bowie. 
Secretary — E.  L.  F.  Hardca.«tle. 

Virginia. 
Vice-President — O.  R.  Funston. 
Secretary — Robert  H.  Glass. 

North  Carolina. 
Vice-Prepidcnt — Bcdlord  Brown. 
Secretary — L.  W.  llumphny. 

South  Carolina. 
Vice-President — B.  II.  Brown. 
Sewetary^ — Franklin  Gaillard. 

Citorffia. 
Vice-President — James  Thomaa. 
Secretary — J.  J.  Dimond. 

Alabaiaa. 
Vice-Prcsident—R.  G.  Scott. 
Secretary — N.  H.  R.  Dawdoa. 


MisxiMippi. 
Vice-President — James  Drane. 
Secretary — W.  D.  H.  Ty.'on. 

Louisiana. 
Vice-President--R.  Taylor. 
Secretary — Charles  Joues. 

Ohio. 
Vice-President — David  Todd. 
Secretary — W.  M.  Stark. 

Kentvcky. 
Vice-President — B.  Spalding. 
Secretary — Robet  McKee. 

Teimesste. 
Vice-President — J.  O.  C.  Atkins. 
Secretary — John  R.  Howard. 

Indiana. 
Vice-President — Isaac  C.  Elston. 
Secretary — Lafayette  Devlin. 

Illinois. 
Vice-President — Z.  Casey. 
Secretary — R.  E.  Goodell. 

Arkarua*. 
Vice-President — Francis  A.  Terry. 
Secretary — F.  W.  Hoadley. 

Michigan. 
Vice-President — H.  H.  Riley. 
Secretary — John  G.  I'arkhurst. 

Florid'i. 
Vice-President— B.  F.  Wardlaw. 
Secretary — C.  E.  Dyke. 
Texas. 
Vice-Presidont — H.  R.  Runnels. 
Secretary — Thomas  P.  Ochiltree. 

Missouri. 
Vice-President — Abraham  Bunter. 
Secretary — J.  T.  Mense. 
Iowa. 
Vice-President— T.  W.  ClaggetL 
Secretary — J.  W.  Bosler. 

Wisconsin. 
Vice-President — Frederick  W.  Horn. 
Secretary— A.  F.  Pratt. 

California. 
Vice-President — J.  A.  Dreibelbis. 
Secretary — John  S.  Dudley. 

MinuKota, 
Vice-President— W.  W.  Phelps. 
Secretary — G.  T.  Rosser. 

Oregon. 
Vici'-lYesident — A.  P.  Denisou. 
Secretary- R.  P.  Metcalf. 


23 

The  committeo  further  recommended  that  the  rules  and  regulations 
adopted  by  the  National  Democratic  Conventions  of  1852  and  1856  be 
adopted  by  this  Convention  for  its  government,  with  this  additional 
rule: 

"That  in  any  State  which  has  not  provided  or  directed  by  its  State 
Convention  how  its  vote  may  be  given,  the  Convention  .will  recognize 
the  right  of  each  delegate  to  east  his  individual  vote." 

This  was  a  Douglns  dodge,  to  allow  minorities  in  Pennsylvania  and 
other  States,  in  which  the  anti-Douglas  men  were  in  the  majority,  to 
vote  for  the  Little  Giant.     The  war  at  once  raged  along  the  whole  line. 

Richardson  of  Illinois  defended  the  report  of  the  committee,  as 
follows : 

Mr.  Richardson,  of  Illinois.  "If  I  propose  to  go  into  an  inquiry  of 
what  was  done  by  the  committee,  it  might  be  proper  to  say  that  the 
proposition  now  submitted  was  acted  upon  in  a  fuller  meeting,  as  I  am 
told,  than  that  of  last  night,  and  adopted  unanimously.  I  do  not  pro- 
pose to  discuss  with  the  gentleman  from  Mississippi  the  subject  as  to 
the  action  of  the  committee.  I  propose  to  place  it  upon  the  basis  of  its 
own  merits.  Where  a  State  Convention  has  met  and  instructed  its 
delegation  as  a  unit,  and  they  have  accepted  the  condition,  they  are 
bound  by  it.  Wherever  they  give  no  such  instruction,  wherever  they 
have  refused  in  State  delegation  to  give  such  instruction,  it  is  proper  to 
place  the  right  of  the  delegate  upon  the  broad  and  distinct  ground  of 
right.  But  where  they  have  entered  into  an  organization,  and  are 
pledged,  they  are  not  at  liberty  to  overrun  the  expressed  wishes  and 
will  of  their  constituents.  But  I  propose  to  place  the  question  of  indi- 
viduality upon  the  broad  ground  of  right,  and  right  alone.  [Applause.] 
I  say  upon  that  ground  the  report  of  the  committee  ought  to  be 
adopted." 

Texas,  Mississippi,  Illinois  and  Pennsylvania  were  heard  on  this 
subject,  Randall  of  Pennsylvania  made  a  speech,  in  which  he  said 
he  would  not  go  for  any  candidate  who  was  not  acceptable  to  a  majority 
of  the  South.  He  also  hinted  that  Douglas  was  the  weakest  man 
whose  name  was  before  the  Convention.  Richardson,  of  Illinois,  said 
it  might  be  interesting  to  inquire  how  long  the  gentleman  had  been  a 
member  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  fight  was  understood  to  be  a 
fair  and  square  one  between  the  Douglas  and  anti-Douglasites.  It  was 
thrust  into  the  Convention  before  its  premanent  organization,  because 
Flournoy,  the  chairman,  was  favorable  to  the  Douglasites.  The  chair, 
however,  blundered,  and  twisted,  and  twisted,  and  got  his  precedents 
tied  into  several  hard  knots.  Richardson  held  the  "floor,  though  about 
twenty  points  of  order  were  raised  upon  him.  He  was,  however, 
allowed  to  proceed.  He  made  a  speech  which  was  not  called  for,  and 
which  was  injurious  to  the  Douglas  faction.  He  referred,  in  the  midst 
of  his  heat,  to  Mr.  Randall  as  one  of  the  recruits  of  yesterday,  and  to 
himself  as  an  old  soldier  in  the  cause.  He  wanted  the  raw  recruits  to 
tarry  awhile  at  Jericho,  until  their  beards  were  grown,  before  they 
instructed  him,  an  old  soldier.  Mr.  Randall  was  highly  excited,  and 
offered  Richardson  his  card,  indicating  that  he  would  hold  him  person- 
ally responsible.     At  this  demonstration  there  was  hissing  about  the 


26 

hall.  Tlio  war  p-occedcd.  Wright,  of  Pennsylvania,  marlc  a  long 
speech.  The  chair  finally  decided  that  the  question  on  the  ado])tionof 
the  report  was  divisible,  and  |)ut  the  ((ue.stion  as  to  the  adoption  of  so 
much  of  the  report  a.s  related  to  the  organization  excdnsively.  That 
part  of  the  report  was  then  adopted,  and  the  permanent  officers  in.'^falled. 
This  decision -of  the  chair  was  really  a  sort  of  blunder.  Mr.  Flournoy 
being  anxious  to  get  out  of  the  chair,  allowed  himself  to  defeat  the 
purposes  of  his  friends. 

Before  leaving  the  chair  Mr.  Flournoy  uncorked  a  speech — the  me- 
morable passages  of  which  were  references  to  "eternal  icebergs  and 
everlasting  frosts  " — and  the  following  gigantic  effort  on  the  Mississippi : 

"The  great  father  of  waters,  the  river  which  commences  at  its  source  in 
the  mountains,  in  springs  and  streams  so  small,  that  a  hunter  would 
scarcely  widen  his  steps  to  cross  them.  But,  running  on,  it  mingles 
with  other  streams;  yet  so  shallow  that  the  mother  duck  can  scarcely 
swim  her  fallow  young  in  its  waters.  Then  rolling  onward,  it  mingles 
with  yet  other  streams,  until,  at  last,  it  forms  the  great  Missi,s«-ippi 
River — so  deep  and  .so  vast  that  all  the  navies  of  the  world  could  ride 
in  safety  upon  its  waters." 

Mr.  Flournoy  introduced  Mr.  Gushing,  who  was  received  with  warm 
applause,  though  the  Douglas  men  dislike  him  intensely.  They  would 
not  needlessly  offend  him,  as  they  have  to  do  the  best  they  can  with 
him.  "While  they  may  have  the  bulk  of  the  Convention,  they  have  not 
a  majority  of  the  States,  and  were  consequently  defeated  in  committee. 

The  interest  to  hear  the  speech  of  Mr.  Cushing  was  intense.  Out- 
siders had  been  admitted  until  all  the  galleries  and  spaces  not  covered 
by  chairs  on  the  floor  were  densely  filled.  When  Mr.  Gushing  was 
introduced  ho  seemed  for  the  moment  slightly  nervous,  and  in  a  heat. 
He  was  dressed  in  a  short,  brown,  sack  coat,  grey  pants,  and  black  satin 
vest.  Considering  the  amount  of  intellectual  labor  he  has  performed, 
he  seems  in  a  remarkably  fine  state  of  preservation.  He  is  partially 
bald,  but  not  at  all  gray.  Such  hair  as  he  pos.sesses  has  the  gloss  of  youth 
and  bear's  grease.  He  uses  a  plain  eye-glass,  suspended  about  his 
neck  by  a  black  ribbon.  His  hands  are  brown  as  a  laborer's.  He  evi- 
dently preserves  himself  by  out-door  exercise.  His  head  is  round  and 
lofty;  the  forehead  high  and  full;  nose  straight  and  sharp ;  lips  thin 
and  expressive  of  intellectual  consciousness  and  pluck,  and  his  face 
shows  very  few  wrinkles.  His  voice  is  clear,  musical,  and  powerful; 
every  syllable  of  his  speech  was  heard  in  every  part  of  the  house.  The 
Convention  is  fortunate  in  having  a  presiding  officer  so  accomplished. 

The  fidlowing  is  Mr.  Cushing's  speech,  as  officially  reported  : 

**  Gentlemen  of  the  Convention  :  I  respectfully  tender  to  you  the  most 
earnest  expression  of  profound  gratitude  for  the  honor  which  you  have 
this  day  done  me  in  appointing  me  to  preside  over  your  deliberations. 
It  is,  however,  a  responsible  duty  imposed,  much  more  than  a  high  h<mor 
conferred.  In  the  discharge  of  that  duty,  in  the  direction  of  business 
and  of  debate,  in  the  preservation  of  order,  it  shall  be  my  constant  en- 
deavor faithfully  and  impartially  to  officiate  here  as  your  minister,  and 
not  huiiiltly  to  reflect  your  will.  In  a  great  deliberative  assembly  like 
this,  it  is  not  the  presiding  officer  in  whom  the  strength  resides.     It  is 


27 

not  his  strength,  but  yours — your  intelligence,  your  sense  of  order,  your 
instinct  of  self-respect.  I  rely,  gentlemen,  confidently  upon  you,  not 
upon  myself,  for  the  prompt  and  parliamentary  dispatch  of  the  business 
of  this  Convention. 

"  Gentlemen,  you  have  come  here  from  the  green  hills  of  the  Eastern 
States — from  the  rich  States  of  the  imperial  centre — from  the  sun-light- 
ed plains  of  the  South — from  the  fertile  States  of  the  mighty  basin  of 
the  Mississippi — from  the  golden  shores  of  the  distant  Oregon  and  Cal- 
ifornia— [loud  cheers] — you  have  come  hither  in  the  exercise  of  the 
highest  functions  of  a  free  people,  to  j^articipate,  to  aid  in  the  selection 
of  the  future  rulers  of  the  Republic.  You  do  this  as  the  representa- 
tives of  the  Democratic  party — of  that  great  party  of  the  Union,  whose 
proud  mission  ii  has  been,  whose  proud  mission  it  is,  to  maintain  the 
public  liberties — to  reconcile  popular  freedom  with  constituted  order — 
to  maintain  the  sacred,  reserved  rights  of  the  sovereign  States — [loud 
and  long-continued  applause] — to  stand,  in  a  word,  the  perpetual  sen- 
tinels on  the  outposts  of  the  Constitution.  [Cries  of  "that's  the  talk," 
and  loud  cheers.]  Ours,  gentlemen,  is  the  motto  inscribed  on  that 
scrool  in  the  hands  of  the  monumental  statute  of  the  great  statesman  of 
South  Carolina,  "  Truth,  Justice,  and  the  Constitution."  [Loud  cheers.] 
Opposed  to  us  are  those  who  labor  to  overthrow  the  Constitution,  under 
the  false  and  insidious  pretense  of  supporting  it ;  those  who  are  aiming 
to  produce  in  this  country  a  permanent  sectional  conspiracy — a  traitor- 
ous sectional  conspiracy  of  one  half  the  States  of  the  Union  against  the 
other  half;  those  who,  impelled  by  the  stupid  and  half  insane  spirit  of 
faction  and  fanaticism,  would  hurry  our  land  on  to  revolution  and  to 
civil  war;  those,  the  branded  enemies  of  the  Constitution,  it  is  the  part 
— the  high  and  noble  part  of  the  Democratic  party  of  the  Union  to  with- 
stand ;  to  strike  down  and  to  conquer  !  Aye  !  that  is  our  part,  and  we 
wdl  do  it.  In  the  name  of  our  dear  country,  with  the  help  of  God,  we 
will  do  it.  [Loud  cheers.]  Aye,  we  tvill  do  it,  for,  gentlemen,  we  will 
not  distrust  ourselves  ;  we  will  not  despair  of  the  genius  of  our  country  ; 
we  will  continue  to  repo.se  with  undoubting  faith  in  the  good  Providence 
of  Almighty  God.     [Loud  applau^e.] 

"  Gentlemen,  I  will  not  longer  detain  you  from  the  important  business 
of  the  Convention.  Allow  me  a  few  moments  for  the  purpose  of  com- 
pleting the  arrangements  with  the  elected  officers  of  the  Convention,  and 
then  tlie  chair  will  call  upon  you  for  such  motions  and  propositions  as 
may  be  in  order  before  the  Convention."     [Applause.] 

After  the  speech,  some  time  was  occupied  in  arranging  the  duties 
of  the  various  clerks,  so  as  to  proceed  with  system  and  order,  to  busi- 
ness. Cushing  had  the  good  sense,  while  this  was  going  on,  to  give 
the  Convention  a  recess. 

The  busine.es  first  in  order  was  the  test  struggle  on  the  proposed 
amendment  of  the  rules  which  had  been  incorporated  into  the  report  of 
the  committee  on  Permanent  Organization,  but  which  had  been  gotten 
rid  of  for  a  time  by  the  division  of  the  question. 

A  motion  was  made  to  strike  out  from  the  report  of  the  committee  on 
Organization  the  original  rule,  and  the  vote  was  called  by  States,  re- 
sultinj;  as  follows : 


J- 


28 


SUile».                                   Vetu.  Xoys.  States.                              Yeas.  Kaya. 

Maine   ')  8           Mis-^issippi 7  0 

New  I I.impshire 0  5           Ttxas 4  0 

Vermont 0  5           Arkiuisas 4  3 J 

Massachusetts 0  5J         Missouri 2  7 

Rhode  Island 0  4           Tennessee 0  12 

Connecticut 0  ti           Kentucky 0  12 

New  York 0  35           Ohio....' 0  V'S 

New  Jersey 0  7           IiMiana 0  13 

Pcnnsylyania 14  loi         Illinois.'. 0  11 

Delaware U  1  i         Miehij;an 0  6 

Maryland 3i  4i         Wisconsin 0  5 

Vir}j;inia 15  r         Iowa   U  4 

North  Carolina 7  3           Minnesota 0  4 

South  Carolina J  8  0           California 2i  U 

Georcria 10  0           Oregon 3  o" 

Florida 6  0 

Alabama 9  0  lOl  198 

Louisiana ^ 6  0 

This  vote  is  tolerably  near  a  correct  representation  of  the  strength  of 
Mr.  DoiigliuH,  in  the  last  analy.sis  of  the  Convention,  by  the  6nal  strug- 
gle. The  nays,  those  opposed  to  striking  out  the  interpolation,  are  not 
all  for  Donghis  now,  by  any  means.  Many  of  them  are  against  him.  so 
far  as  to  have  some  other  first  choice.  But  they  may,  under  the  pres- 
sure that  will  come,  be  brought  to  vote  for  him.  And  we  may  add  to 
them  the  vote  of  South  Carolina.  It  is  too  soon  yet  for  the  delegation 
from  that  State  to  show  its  hand.  To  avoid  scandal,  it  voted  with  the 
South,  but  it  is  of  the  Softs  of  South  Carolina. 

The  conclusions  which  I  draw  from  this  vote  are  very  sturdily  dis- 
puted here  by  the  anti-Douglas  men.  And  the  New  Yorkers  and  Ken- 
tuckians  say  they  meant  no  such  thing  as  I  say.  The  first  choice  of 
Kentircky  is  Mr.  Guthrie,  and  her  second,  Brcckenridge, — but  a  ma- 
jority of  her  delegates  would  acquiesce  in  the  nomination  of  Douglas, 
and  might,  under  pretext  of  saving  the  nation,  vote  for  him  in  an  ex- 
tremity, to  give  him  a  two-thirds  vote.  And  John  Cochrane  will  lead 
the  New  Yorkers  into  the  Douglas  camp,  the  moment  he  can  do  so  with 
the  greatest  eclat,  and  make  sure  of  giving  him  the  nomination  Then 
John  will  expect  the  grateful  recognition  of  Mr.  Douglas  if  he  should 
become  President.  Douglas  might,  of  course,  afford  to  give  the  Eng- 
lish mission  for  the  vote  of  New  York  in  this  Convention,  and  enough 
besides  of  Federal  fatness  to  buy  thirty  politicians  of  easy  virtue. 

Poor  Lafe  Develin  of  Indiana  gave  one  shriek  for  freedom  to-day. 
He  is  hed;:ed  about  by  his  colleagues,  and  iron-liound  by  the  instruc- 
tions of  the  State  Convention  of  Indiana,  that  her  delegation  should 
vote  there  as  an  unit.  Lafe  has  insisted  that  he  would  not  be  bound  by 
State  instructions,  but  I  believe  that  in  an  "unguarded  moment''  he 
voted  in  the  Indiana  Convention  for  the  unit}'  of  the  Charleston  dele- 
gati(m.  Lafe's  zeal  cooled,  when  lJueh:man  appointed  the  grandfather 
of  the  Kiiglish  bill  U.  S.  Marshal  ot  Iniliana.  But  to-day  he  cuuld 
not  stand  it,  and  shrieked  loudly  that  he  was  authorized  to  cast  two 
vot€8  from  Indiana.  But  he  was  put  down.  IIo  fell  in  his  tracks,  as 
it  were,  a  d  Freedom  shriekeii  when  Lafayette  Develin  fell.  A  pnition 
of  the  Tennessee   delegation   squirmed   at   the  vote  thrown  as  above. 


29 

Nearly  half  the  delegation  were  determined  to  vote  the  other  way,  but 
the  majority  ruled. 

There  are  a  large  number  of  gentlemen  here  from  Kentucky,  working 
for  John  C.  Breckenridge.  Among  them  are  Senator  Powell,  Gov. 
Magoffin,  Burnet  (Congressman),  Prei*ton,  Minister  to  Spain,  and  others 
of  dif-tiiiction.  But  the  Kentucky  delegation  stands  firm  for  old  Iron- 
sides, that  is  to  say,  James  Guthrie. 

The  following  committee  was  reported  to-day  : 

Committee  on  Resolutio7is  and  Platform — Maine,  A.  M.  Roberts  ; 
New  Hampshire,  Wm.  Beven  ;  Vermont,  E.  M.  Brown;  Massachu- 
setts, B.  F.  Butler;  Rhode  Island,  C.  S.  Bradley;  Connecticut,  A. 
G.  Hazard  ;  New  York,  Ed.  Cogswell  ;  New  Jersey,  Benj.  William- 
son ;  Pennsylvania,  A.  B.  Wright;  Delaware,  J.  A.  Bayard  ;  Mary- 
land, B.  S.  Johnson;  Virginia,  J.  Barbour;  North  Carolina,  W.  VV. 
Avery ;  South  Carolina,  J.  S.  Preston  ;  Georgia,  J.  Wingfitdd  ;  Flor- 
ida, J.  B.  Owens;  Alabama,  John  Erwin  ;  Louisiana,  H.  A.  Hunter  ; 
Mississippi,  E.   Barksdale ;  Texas,  F.  S.  Stockdale  ;  Arkansas,  N.  B. 

Burrow;  Missouri,  ;  Tennessee,  Sam.  Milligan  ;   Kentucky,  R. 

K.  Williams;  Ohio,  H.  B.  Payne;  Indiana,  P.  C  Dunning;  Illinois, 
O.  B.  Ficklin;  Michigan,  G.  V.  N.  Lothrop;  Wisconsin,  A  S.  Pal- 
mer; Iowa,  B.  M.  Samuels;  Minnesota,  J.  M.  Cavanaugh;  California, 
Austin  E.  Smith;  Oregon,  James  J.  Stevens. 

COMMENTARY    ON    SECOND    DAy's    PROCEEDINGS. 

CuARi.ESTON,  S.  C,  April  24th  (at  night). 

The  advantages  gained  by  the  Douglas  men  in  the  Convention  to- 
day wore  important,  and  will,  in  my  judgment,  certainly  result  in  Mr. 
Dituglas  receiving  a  majority  of  tbe  votes  in  the  Convention.  Then 
the  struggle  to  give  him  two-thirds  will  be  tremendous,  and  in  spite  of 
the  bittor  opposition  of  the  ultra  South,  and  of  tbe  Administration, 
President,  Cabinet,  and  Senators,  he  may  get  two-thirds,  and  it  is  my 
present  impression  that  he  will.  The  friends  of  Douglas  have  not  only 
the  strongest  compact  body  of  delegates,  but  have  thus  far  displayed 
the  best  tactics.  The  Soutb  has  been  not  only  divided  in  counsel  but 
deficient  in  judgment.  The  current  has  run  steadily  for  Douglas  from 
tbe  first.  It  was  apparent  several  days  ago,  that  the  outside  pressure 
was  for  him.  Every  Southern  man  of  any  force,  who  is  for  Douglas, 
though  in  a  small  minority  at  home,  and  repudiated  by  the  Conventions, 
has  been  summoned  here  to  manufacture  public  opinion.  This  has 
been  done  calculatingly  and  systematically,  and  has  its  effect.  There 
are  men  here  from  every  Southern  State,  working  directly  or  indirectly 
for  Douglas.  Tbe  first  gain  of  the  Douglasites  was  in  the  action  of 
Judge  Smalley,  in  admitting  the  Cagger,  Cassidy,  Richmond,  and  Coch- 
rane New  York  delegation,  and  the  Douglas  Illinois  delegation  to  seats, 
and  excluding  Fernando  Wood,  Ike  Cook,  and  their  followers. 

Tbe  next  gain  was  in  the  confirmation  of  this  action  of  the  Execu- 
tive committee,  by  the  Convention  yesterday,  which  was  not  so  import- 
ant in  itself,  as  in  the  weakness  of  tbe  ultra  South  exposed  by  it.  Tbe 
great  gain   to-day  was  in   passing  a  rule  allowing  single   delegates  in 


30 

States  not  inptnicted  to  vote  as  an  unit,  to  vote  as  they  please.  This 
will  add  about  twentj'-Gve  votes  to  the  Douglas  strength — and  will  give 
the  curn-nt  which  ia  running  toward  his  nomination  greater  iinpttuosity 
and  more  formidable  power.  There  is  a  great  deal  in  this  current,  in 
a  Convention  in  which,  as  w  this,  the  mere  politicians  largely  predomi- 
nate. There  are  many  eager  to  make  themselves  conspicuous  in  the 
eyes  of  the  man  upon  whom  they  look  a.s  the  next  President.  He  has 
offices  within  his  gift,  foreign  missions — and  all  that.  You  know  how 
it  is — you  know  how  it  was  in  the  Cincinnati  Convention. 

There  are  several  Southern  States  whose  delegations  are  "  unsound." 
Even  the  Alabama  delegation  contains  two  Douglas  men.  They  have 
to  vote  with  the  rest,  but  their  presence  is  influential.  The  ultras  of 
South  Carolina,  standing  upon  their  dignity,  did  not  go  info  the  Con- 
vention for  the  nomination  of  delegates  to  the  National  Convention. 
Their  virtue  was  superior  to  the  blandishments  of  a  National  caucus. 
The  consetjuence  is,  Mr.  Orr,  whose  position  I  detailed  you  in  another 
letter,  comes  here  with  the  vote  of  the  State  in  his  hand — and  I  am 
now  convinced  that  Douglas  can  get  it  whenever  it  would  give  him  the 
nomination.  The  NeW  Yorkers,  of  both  factions — and  Fernando  Wood 
has  no  chance — are  purchasable.  Some  of  the  delegates  are  govern- 
ment officers,  but  the  last  sands  of  thi.^  administration  are  running  out, 
and  its  displeasure  is  no  longer  feared.  The  eyes  of  Federal  gold  wor- 
shipers are  turned  to  the  coming  man,  and  when  Douglas  can  be  nom- 
inated by  the  vote  of  New  York,  he  will  get  it.  And  so  of  other 
States.  But  there  will  be  a  rupture.  There  is  a  portion  of  the  South, 
as  represented  here,  that  cannot  and  will  not  submit  t»  Douglas  on  a 
platform  that  tolerates  the  notion  of  "  Popular  Sovereignty."  A  great 
battle  is  to  be  fought  on  the  platform.  It  is,  I  believe,  as  I  write,  being 
fought  in  the  committee  on  Resolutions.  There  are  radical  and  inex- 
tinguishable feuds  in  the  Democratic  party,  and  they  must  come  out 
here  and  now. 


THIRD    DAY 


Institute  II all.      j 


Charleston,  S.  C.  April 

There  was  much  noise  and  confusion  about  town  last  night.  The 
Southern  men  kept  up  their  spirits  by  aid  of  a  band  of  music,  and 
speeches  by  the  leaders  of  the  tire-eaters.  The  speakers  were  very  se- 
vere on  the  "  bobtailed  pony  from  Illinois.  Fernando  Wood  was  sere- 
naded, and  made  an  able  and  adroit  response,  which  was  entirely  ac- 
ceptable to  the  South.  He  was  looking  forward  to  an  explosion  of  the 
Convention,  and  his  nomination  as  Vice-President  by  the  Southern  lead- 
ers. It  is  the  general  impression  this  morniug,  as  1  have  just  informed 
you  by  telegraphic  dispatch,  that  there  will  bean  explosion  of  the  Con- 
vention— that  it  is  indeed  inevitable,  and  that  the  Conventiou  is  only 
hidd  together  now  by  endeavors  of  the  various  factions,  which  are  irre- 
concilably hostile,  to  make  a  record  suitable  for  their  ulterior  purposes. 


31 

The  hall  is  very  much  crowded.  Those  who  have  tickets,  send  them 
out  after  they  get  in,  and  others  come  in.  In  this  way  every  body  who 
understands  the  trick,  and  nearly  every  body  does,  gets  in.  So  there 
is  an  infernal  crowd.  Fortunately  the  atmosphere  is  much  cooler  than 
heretofore.  The  ladies  have  become  anxious  on  the  subject  of  the  Con- 
vention. Their  gallery  is  as  full  as  possible,  and  still  crowds  of  them 
are  besieging  the  stairways. 

The  Convention  was  opened  with  prayer,  which  is  presumed  to  have 
been  very  solemn  and  fervent,  but  nobody  heard  it. 

The  first  thing  in  order  was  to  inquire  whether  there  was  any  com- 
mittee ready  to  report.  There  being  none,  the  unfinished  business  of 
yesterday  was  taken  up.  This  was  in  relation  to  the  adoption  of  a  rule 
that,  in  debate,  no  delegate  should  speak  more  than  once,  nor  more 
than  fifteen  minutes. 

Proceedings  were  interrupted  by  a  gallant  gentleman  from  Missouri, 
who  proposed  to  relieve  the  ladies  who  were  "  hanging  on  the  stair- 
ways." The  Convention  invited  the  ladies  to  come  in  and  take  seats 
in  the  chairs  under  the  galleries.  "f 

The  immoderately  anxious  Douglas  men  wanted  the  fifteen  minute 
rule  adopted.  They  were  too  anxious  to  put  down  the  screws,  however, 
and  were  defeated.  The  vote  was  121  for  the  fifteen  minute  rule,  and 
182  against.  Now,  according  to  the  rules  adopted — being  those  of  the 
House  of  Representatives — the  hour  rule  is  in  force. 

The  vote  as  taken  by  States  stands  as  follows — not  a  test  for  or 
against  Douglas — but  a  test  of  prudence : 

States.                                  Veax.  ^ays.  Slates.  Yeas.  Nays. 

Maine 8             6        Mississippi 0  7 

New  Hampshire 0  5         Texas 0  4 

Vermont 0  5         Arkansas 0  4 

Massachusetts 0  13        Missouri 9  0 

Rhode  Island 0            4         Tennessee 12  0 

Counecticut 1             5         KentuciiV 11  1 

New  York 0  'US         Ohio...' 0  23 

New  Jersey 7             0         Indiana 13  0 

Pennsylvania 27             0         Illinois 11  0 

Delaware 3            0         M ichigau 6  0 

Maryland 0            8         Wisconsin 5  0 

Virginia 0  15         Iowa 4  0 

North  Carolina 0  10         Minnesota 0  4 

South  Carolina 0             8        California 4  0 

Georgia 0  10         Oregon 0  3 

Florida 0  3  

Alabama 0             9  121  182 

Louisiana 0  (i 

It  is  a  general  remark  that  the  Convention  has  narrowly  escaped  doing 
a  very  foolish  thing.  It  would  have  been  unsafe  to  have  clioked  down  de* 
bate  into  fifteen  minute  speeches.  It  would  not  do  to  bottle  up  wrath 
80  intense.  It  is  now  hoped  that  the  South's  fire  will  pale  in  long 
speeches,  and  become  ineffectual  in  the  course  of  their  hour  harangues. 
A  debate  followed,  on  the  propriety  of  gag  laws.  It  was  said,  on  be- 
half of  the  South,  that  eloquence  mu.st  be  resorted  to.  The  State  of 
Alabama  must  not  be  gagged.  Her  eloquence  must  be  allowed  to  flow. 
Lowry  of  Indiana  thought  it  a  very  equivalent  compliment  to  the  del- 


32 

egates,  to  suppose  that  much  talk  would  move  any  of  them  from  their 
convi<;ti(»ns.  As  for  eloqueuce,  on  such  occasions,  it  was  too  prone  to 
degenerate  into  invective. 

It  \v;is  mntended  by  a  delegate  from  Delaware,  that  the  hour  rule, 
under  the  operation  of  the  previous  question,  would  he  the  most  horri- 
ble of  gags.  After  a  free  interchange  of  views,  the  fifteen  minute  rule 
was  adoptuii,  with  this  proviso,  that  the  rule  should  not  be  applied  in 
discussions  on  the  platform.  The  speakers  will  each  be  allowed  an  hour 
to  ventilate  the  Territorial  question.  This  is  about  the  best  thing  that 
could  be  done.  A  conversation  sprung  up  between  Walker  of  Mis- 
souri, and  Cochrane,  pending  a  motion  to  open  the  galleries  to  the  pub- 
lic. Walker  informed  the  ladies  that  Mr.  Cochrane  was  a  bachelor. 
The  information  was  received  with  immense  approbation.  Cochrane 
acknowlt'ilgiid  his  desperate  condition,  and  expressed  his  willingness  to 
enter  into  the  marriage  relation.  Walker  said  that  it  was  apparent  that 
the  reason  wliy  Cochrane  had  not  married  was  because  he  could  not. 
He  moved  to  lay  the  New  York  bachelor  on  the  table.  The  Chair  tol- 
erated this  nonsen.se  for  some  time,  but  at  last  interposed,  and  summarily 
shut  down  upon  it.  Mr.  Vallandigham  made  an  explanation  of  the 
action  of  the  Kxecutive  committee  regarding  the  is»ue  of  tickets,  which 
was  satisfactory.  The  Convention  then  refused  to  throw  open  the  doors 
to  the  miscellaneous  public. 

There  was  now  no  business  before  the  Convention,  the  committee  on 
Credentials  not  being  able  to  report — the  Convention  adjourned  to  four 
o'clock,  when  the  New  York  fight  will  come  off.  It  will  be  warm,  and 
loud  and  long.  A  considerable  majority  of  the  Convention  will  be  in 
favor  of  excluding  the  Fernando  Wood  and  Ike  Cook  delegations. 

The  Convention  is  most  fortunate  in  having  so  excellent  a  presiding 
oflBcer  as  Caleb  Cushing.  Mr.  Cushing's  head  is  wonderfully  clear, 
and  his  knowledge  of  parliamentuary  law — and  the  rules  of  the  House 
of  Representatives — perfect.  All  his  stateuients  of  the  questions  that 
are  before  the  house,  are  distinct  and  downright,  and  no  one  thinks,  as 
yet,  of  taking  an  appeal  from  his  decisions.  This  will  help  the  Con- 
vention materially  in  its  great  tribulation. 

More  intense  interest  than  has  yet  prevailed  is  felt  in  the  forthcoming 
New  York  fight.  This  will  consume  the  afternoon  session,  and  to-mor- 
row we  will  have  the  platform  fight,  and  I  do  not  see  how  it  will  be 
possible  to  prevent  a  disruption  of  the  Convention.  The  South  makes 
it  a  point  of  honor  that  the  platform  shall  not  be  one  capable  of  a  double 
construction,  but  shall  be  one  which  cannot  be  fairly  interpreted  to  mean 
any  thing  short  of  "  sound  Southern  d(tctrine,"  that  is,  the  protection  of 
slave  property  in  the  Territories,  and  the  unequivocal  repudiation  of  the 
Douglas  doctrine  of  squatter,  or  popular  sovereignty.  The  Northern 
delegates  don't  care  much  about  the  honor  of  the  matter.  It  is  of  the 
most  grave  consequence  to  them,  involving,  as  I  have  before  saiil,  for 
them,  the  issues  of  life  and  death.  Their  political  existence  depends 
absoltely  upon  their  ability  to  construe  the  platform  adopted  here  to 
mean  "  popular  sovereignty,"  in  other  words,  upon  such  a  form  of  words 
in  the  platform,  as  will  allow  them  to  declare,  in  the  North,  that  the 
officially  expressed  Democratic  doctrine  is  that  the  people  of  the  Terri- 


33 

tories  may,  whilo  in  their  territorial  condition,  abolish  or  exclude  slavery. 
They  cannot,  dare  not  yield  the  opportunity  for  pressing  this  pretext. 
The  South  will  not  allow  it.  Here,  then,  is  the  "  irrepressible  conflict" 
— a  conflict  between  enduring  forces.  You  may  with  propriety  use,  re- 
specting it,  language  as  strong  as  that  of  Mr,  Seward  in  his  Rochester 
speech.  The  Douglas  Democracy,  you  know,  only  want  the  pretext  to 
use  before  the  people.  They  are  willing  to  acquiesce  in  the  decision  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  knowing  beforehand  that  the  decision  would  be 
against  them.  The  South  stands  upon  what  they  believe  to  be  princi- 
ple, and  they  cannot  in  honor,  as  they  say,  allow  the  Northern  branch 
of  the  party  to  yield  so  far  to  the  Abolition  pressure,  as  to  take  refuge 
from  it  under  a  false  and  fraudulent  pretense. 

The  preponderant  faction  of  the  Northern  Democracy  say  the  South- 
ern doctrine  of  protection  of  slave  property  in  the  Territories  is  "  inad- 
missible " — that  is  the  word — and  1  believe  they  have,  when  the  pinch 
comes,  a  majority  of  the  Convention.  The  South  says  a  platform  with 
two  faces  is  no  longer  tolerable.  And  the  South  has  in  this  position  a 
majority  of  the  States.  There  is  a  majority  in  the  committee  on  Plat- 
form in  favor  of  amending  the  Cincinnati  Platform  so  as  to  repudiate 
its  Northern  interpretation.  The  States  of  Pennsylvania,  Oregon  and 
California,  as  here  represented,  are  with  the  South  in  this  matter.  The 
inevital)le  consequence  is,  there  will  be  two  reports  from  the  committee 
on  Piatforui.  The  majority  report,  favored  by  a  minority  of  the  Con- 
vention— and  the  minority  report,  favored  by  the  majority.  Upon  the 
adoption  of  the  Cincinnati  Platform,  with  its  "  popular  sovereignty 
heresy  "  understood  to  be  attached,  and  constituting  its  vitality,  the 
South  must  withdraw.  At  least  half  a  dozen  States  will  certainly  go, 
and  how  many  more,  and  how  many  fragments  of  others,  it  is  impossi- 
ble to  say.  Then  the  majority  Convention  will  nominate  Douglas.  The 
South  will  be  sustained  in  its  secession  by  the  whole  power  of  the  Ad- 
ministration, and  by  the  Southern  Senators,  who  would  be  murdered, 
politically,  by  the  nomination  of  Douglas  in  a  full  Convention,  upon  a 
platform  on  which  it  would   be  possible  for  him  to  stand. 

When  it  was  determined  yesterday,  as  it  was  by  an  overwhelminw 
vote,  to  adopt  a  platform  before  nominating  a  candidate,  it  appeared  that 
there  was  no  hope  remaining  of  the  unity  of  the  Convention.  Both 
factions  voted  to  have  the  platform  first.  The  only  possible  way  to  keep 
the  Convention  together  from  the  start,  was  for  the  Douglas  men  to 
withdruw  his  name;  and  then  the  South,  with  another  man.  would  have 
been  willing  to  mitigate  the  asperities  of  the  slave  code  platform.  The 
disruption  of  this  Convention  insures  the  nomination  of  Scwird  at 
Chicago — but  not  his  election.  Southern  secession  here,  would  give 
Dou^^his  strength  in  some  of  the  Northern  States.  There  would  be 
no  possibility  of  his  election,  however,  for  he  would  certainly  io.-<e  sev- 
eral Simihern  States.  lie  might,  and  the  chances  are  that  he  would, 
carry  Northern  States  enough  to  defeat  the  election  of  Seward.  Thus 
the  election  would  be  thrown  into  Congress — Jtid  eventually  into  the 
Senate.  Tnis  is  beyond  question  the  game  of  the  Southern  men,  and 
it  looks  as  if  the  chances  were  that  it  would  win.  These  are  not  only 
my  opinions  and  speculations  here  to-day,  but  they  are  such  as  are  cur- 
3 


34 

rent  among  those  wbo  are  candid  with  themselves  and  frank  in  giving 
expression  to  their  views. 

ArrERNOON    SESSION. 

After  some  immaterial  controversy, 

Judge  Krum  of  Missouri,  chairman  of  the  committee  on  Creden- 
tials, presented  the  following  report  and  resolutions,  upon  which  the 
committee  had  agreed,  and  he  claimed  for  it  the  attention  of  the  Con- 
vention : 

MAJORrfT    REPORT. 

To  the  National  Democratic  Oonvention  : 

Mk.  President  : — Your  cominittce  on  Credentials,  immediately  after  their  aj)- 
pointment,  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties  ansigncd  them,  and  carefully 
examined  the  credeutials  of  the  several  delegates  to  this  Convention. 

Your  committee  liud  that  all  the  States  of  the  Uuiou.  except  the  States  of 
Massachusetts.  Maryland,  Illinois  and  New  York  are  represented  in  this  Conveu- 
tion  by  delegates  duly  elected  in  the  several  States  by  State  or  District  organi- 
zations of  the  Democratic  party,  and  your  committee  append  to  this  report,  as 
a  part  thereof,  full  list*  of  the  delegates  so  selected. 

Your  committee  further  report  that  there  were  contesting  claimants  to  the 
seats  held  by  the  delegations  in  the  following  cases,  viz  : 

la  the  Fifth  Congressional  District  of  Miissaclnisetts. 

Id  the  Fourth  Congressional  District  of  Maryland. 

In  the  State  of  Illinois,  and — 

In  the  State  of  New  York. 

The  contestants  in  these  several  cases  had  a  full  and  impartial  hearing  before 
your  committee,  and,  after  a  full  consideration  of  their  respective  claims,  your 
committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  sitting  delegates  in  these  Districts  and  States 
are  justly  entitled  to  their  respective  seat.«. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

JOHN  M.  KRUM,  Chairman. 

liesolved,  That  the  sitting  delegates  to  this  Convention  from  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois, of  whom  Col.  W.  A.  Richardson  is  chairman,  are  entitled  to  their  respec- 
tive seats. 

liesolved,  That  Cornelius  Doherty  and  K.  S.  Chappee,  delegates  representing 
the  Fifth  Congressional  District  of  Ma.<sachusetts,  are  entitled  to  their  respec- 
tive seats. 

liesolved,  That  F.  M.  Landham  and  Robert  J.  Brent,  delegates  representing 
the  Fourth  Congressional  District  of  Maryland,  are  entitled  to  their  respective 
scats. 

litxolved.  That  the  delegates  to  this  Convention  from  the  State  of  New  York, 
of  which  Dean  Richmond  is  chairman,  are  entitled  as  such  to  seats  therein. 

Adopted. 

Mr.  JJrooks,  of  Alabama,  presented  the  following  Minority  Report 
and  Resolutions: 

MINORrrV    RErORT. 

To  the  Honorable  President  of  tlie  National  Democratic  Omvetition : 

The  undersigned,  members  of  the  committee  on  Credentials,  under  an  impe- 
rious sense  of  duty,  arc  constraint  d  to  dissent  from  the  report  i)f  the  majority  of 
this  committee,  and  respectfully  recommend  that  the  two  delegations  from  the 
State  of  New  York  be  authorizid  to  select  each  thirty-five  delegates,  and  that 
tin;  sovt'nty  Delegates  thus  selected  be  admitted  to  this  Convention  as  the  dele- 
gates of  the  New  York  Democracy,  and  that  they  be  allowed  two  hours  to  re- 
port their  selection  -the  two  delegates  to  vote  separately,  each  to  be  entitled  to 


35 

seventeen  votes,  the  remaining  vote  of  said  State  to  be  cast  alternately  by  the 
two  dtlegatioQS,  the  sitting  members  casting  it  the  first  time. 

(Signed)  WILLIAM  M.  BROOKS, 

Delegate  from  Alabama. 
JOHN  S.  DUDLEY, 

Delegate  from  California. 
E.  GREEN, 

Delegate  front  Texas. 
VAN  H.  MANNING, 

Delegate  from  Arkansas. 
JULIAN  HARTRIDGE, 

Delegate  from  Georgia. 
W.  S.  BARRY, 

of  Mississippi. 

Mr.  Brooks  of  Alabama  oflFered  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  two  delegations  from  New  York  be  authorized  to  select 
each  thiny-five  delegates,  and  that  the  seventy  Delegates  thus  selected,  be  ad- 
mitted to  this  Convention  as  delegates  from  the  New  York  Democracy,  and  that 
they  be  allowed  two  hours  to  report  their  selection.  The  two  delegations  to 
vote  separately,  each  to  be  entitled  to  seventeen  votes,  the  remaining  vote  to  be 
cast  alternately  by  the  two  delegation.s — the  sitting  members  to  cast  it  the  first 
time. 

A  discussion  followed  in  which  New  York  politics  were  well  ven- 
tilated. 

Then  the  several  resolutions  reported  by  the  majority  were  adopted, 
down  to  the  resolution  on  the  New  York  case. 

The  question  then  being  on  the  amendment  of  Mr.  Brooks  of  Ala- 
bama, the  State  of  Alabama  called  for  the  vote  by  States,  and  the  State 
of  Mississippi  seconded  the  call. 

The  amendment  was  lost  by  the  following  vote : 

States.                                 Teas.  Nays.         States.                            Yeas.  Nays. 

Maine 0             8  Mississippi 7  0 

New  Hampshire 0            5  Texas 4  0 

Vermont    0            5  Arkansas 3  I 

Massachusetts 0  13  Missouri 1  8 

Rhode  Island 0             4  Tennessee 9  3 

Connecticut 0             6  Kentucky 0  12 

New  York 0            0  Ohio 0  23 

New  Jersey  0            7  Indiana 0  13 

Pennsylvania 0  27  Illinois 0  11 

Delaware 0            3  Michigan 0  6 

Maryland 0            8  Wisconsin    0  5 

Virginia 3^  10  Iowa 0  4 

North  Carolina .')            4  Minnesota 0  4 

South  Carolina 0            8  California 3i  \ 

Georgia 10            0  Oregon , 0  3 

Florida 0  3 

Alabama 9            0                                                    55  2I0J 

Louisiana 0  6 

The  question  then  recurring  on  the  adoption  of  the  resolution  of  the 
majority,  the  same  was  adopted  by  a  large  majority. 

The  entire  report  of  the  committee  was  then  adopted. 

Mr.  North  of  Pennsylvania  moved  to  reconsider  the  motion  to 
adopt  the  report,  and  to  lay  that  motion  on  the  table.     Agreed  to. 

Mr.  North  of  Pennsylvania  then  moved  that  the  rejected  claimants 


36 

for  seats  in  this  Convention  be  invited  to  take  honorary  seats  on  this 
floor.     [Cries  of  "  No  I  "   •'  No  !  "   "  No  !  "] 

2>lr.  Lawrence  of  Louisiana.  The  gentlemen  whose  claims  have 
been  rejected  will  not  accept  such  an  offer. 

A  Voice.     Then  let  them  stay  out. 

The  Illinois  contest  was  not  alluded  to  in  debate.  The  Cook  dele- 
gation were  kicked  out  without  a  dissenting  voice.  This  must  be  very 
pleasant  to  Mr.  Buchanan,  who^^e  postmaster  at  Chicago,  and  especial 
pet,  Mr.  Cook  is.  Poor  Cook  swears  profusely  and  piteously,  and 
that  is  the  extent  of  his  capacity. 

Tbe  death  of  the  chairman  of  the  Vermont  delegation,  Hon  John 
S.  Ilobinso:i,  was  then  announced  and  resolutions  of  respect  passed. 

The  credential  controversy  being  closed,  the  contest  comes  on  the 
platform,  and  then — the  disruption  !  An  explosion  is  certain  to  take 
place,  and  the  only  question  is  as  to  the  extent  of  the  Southern  seces- 
sion. The  air  is  full  of  rumors,  and  there  is  general  concurrence  in 
the  proposition  that  it  will  be  impossible  for  the  unity  of  the  Convention 
to  be  preserved  up  to  the  commencement  of  the  balloting  for  candidates. 
I  am  informed  by  a  delegate  from  one  of  the  border  Southern  States, 
that  his  delegation  will  not  withdraw  when  the  Southern  platform  is 
rejected,  and  the  Northern  one  with  two  interpretations  is  adopted,  but 
will  withdraw  when  Douglas  is  nominated  on  the  equivocal  platform,  an 
event  which  is  certain  to  follow  the  secession  of  the  Gulf  Slates,  which 
will  take  place  after  the  platform  fight. 

Charleston,  S.  C,  April  25th  (at  night). 

The  Convention  is  now  ready  for  the  great  business  upon  which  it 
has  come  together — that  of  constructing  a  platform  and  nominating  a 
candidate.  The  committee  on  Platform  is  now  in  session,  and  in  agony 
no  doubt,  with  the  various  ambiguous  resolutions  before  it.  The  case 
is  very  simple.  There  is,  to  begin  with,  an  irreconcilable  difference  in 
the  doctrines  respecting  slavery  in  the  Territories  between  the  Northern 
and  Southern  wings  of  tbe  Democratic  party.  The  platform  must  be 
drawn  with  elaborate  ambiguity,  and  capable  of  two  constructions,  or 
the  party  must  bo  divided. 

It  is  only  certain  just  now,  that  the  understanding  this  morning  that 
there  would  be  a  disruption  of  the  Convention,  caused  a  panic,  and 
that  a  disposition  to  compromise  and  be  ambiguous  prevails. 

I  hear  it  asserted  on  that  which  seems  reliable  authority,  that  Mr. 
Ric.liaid>on  of  Illinois  has  authority  to  withdraw  the  name  of  Douglas, 
and  w  11  withdraw  it,  if  there  is  any  thing  about  the  protection  of  slavery 
in  the  Territories  in  the  platform. 

Tlie  party  must  take  refuge  under  false  pretenses  of  doctrine,  or  go 
in  pieces.  The  question  is:  Will  the  South  yield  the  point  of  honor, 
which  they  have  been  insisting  upon,  so  far  as  to  allow  the  platform  to 
be  made  ambiguous  Y  If  they  will,  the  Douglas  men  are  so  confident 
in  their  ability  to  nominate  Douglas,  and  in  the  potency  of  their  war- 
whoop,  that  they  will  probably  allow  the  Cincinnati  I'lutform  to  be 
anieiidi  (1  by  tlie  addition  of  something  equivalent  in  the  estimation  of 
the  South  to  the  affirmation  of  the  Dred  Scott  decision  doctrine,  with 


37 

tbe  interpretation  put  upon  the  decision  by  Judge  Black,  in  his  pamph- 
let controversj  with  Douglas. 

Douflas  men  are  asserting  warmly  at  the  Mills  House  that  they  never 
will  yield  an  inch — never,  never.  And  they  want  a  little  Southern 
sensation  on  the  platform.  Tliey  want  about  forty  Southern  delegates 
to  go  out,  for  that  would  insure  the  nomination  of  Douglas,  and  help 
him  in  the  North.  Their  fear  is,  that  the  secession  will  be  uncomfort- 
ably large.  A  slight  secession  of  merely  the  "shred  of  Gulf  States" 
■would  be  a  help;  and  a  great  secession,  carrying  with  it  the  weight  of 
the  South,  would  be  ruinous.  To-morrow  is  understood  to  be  the  crisis 
of  the  Convention.  We  hear  hourly  that  a  crisis  involving  the  fate  of 
the  country  is  at  hand. 

The  more  I  see  of  this  city  the  more  I  am  impressed  with  its  singu- 
lar beauties.  The  most  charming  spot  it  contains  is  the  Battery — 
which  is  in  fact  a  park  situated  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  peninsula 
upon  which  the  city  is  built.  On  one  side  is  the  harbor,  the  islands, 
the  shores  of  the  bay,  the  forts  and  shipping.  On  the  other  is  a  street 
of  stately  edifices,  splendid  private  residences,  surrounded  by  trees. 

In  the  pleasant  evenings,  the  people  of  leisure  congregate  here ; 
hundreds  of  carriages  and  buggies,  full  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  whirl 
along  the  drives — lovinor  couples,  and  nurses  with  babies  in  their  arms 
or  in  hand-carriages,  and  leading  or  directing  groups  of  children, 
throng  every  promenade.  At  times  it  seems  the  whole  town  must  have 
turned  out  for  a  grand  reunion,  and  the  sea-breeze  comes  up  with  health 
on  its  wings.  Daring  the  session  of  the  Convention  there  has  been  a 
band  of  music  from  Boston,  used  principally  in  serenading  great  men 
at  a  late  hour,  and  bringing  out  speeches  ("  unpremeditated,"  of  course, 
though  the  speakers  are  usually  notified  beforehand),  which  has  made 
the  battery  especially  delicious  of  evenings,  by  discoursing  there  the 
most  exquisite  music.  About  dusk  the  streets  leading  to  the  battery 
are  full  of  people  returning  from  visits  to  it.  The  sidewalivs  are  lined 
as  if  some  street  public  assemblage,  political  or  religious,  had  just  been 
dissolved. 

The  delegates  that  took  precaution  to  have  contracts  with  the  hotel 
keepers,  have  found  themselves  badly  sold.  The  North-western  dele- 
gates are  taxed  at  least  fifty  dollars  each  extra,  in  consequence  of  their 
contracts.  The  Kentucky  delegation  made  a  contract  with  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  Charleston  Hotel  for  parlors  and  bed-rooms,  capable  of 
accommodating  fifty  persons,  agreeing  to  pay  two  hundred  and  fitty  dol- 
lars per  day,  from  the  fifteenth  of  April  to  the  end  of  the  Convention. 
Only  twenty  persons  appeared,  and  the  poor  fellows  came  together  and 
appointed  a  deputation  to  wait  on  the  hotel-keeper.  He  agreed  to  allow 
the  expiration  of  the  contract  ten  days  from  its  conmiencement,  and 
then  to  board  them  at  the  rate  of  two  dollars  per  day. 

The  twenty  gentlemen  thereupon  shelled  out  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  dollars  each,  and  had  their  contract  canceled.  Most  of  them  were 
men  who  had  plenty  of  money,  but  they  travailed  and  groaned  in  spirit, 
confessing,  however,  that  they  had  only  themselves  to  blame. 

There  are  accommodations  here  for  three  times  the  number  of  persons 
present. 


38 

FOURTH   DAY. 

Institctk  ITai.i,,      I 
Charleston,  S.  C,  April  IGlh.  \ 

The  committee  on  Platform  is  again  in  session,  and  doing  its  best  to 
make  a  platform.  It  adjourned  at  a  late  hour  last  night,  without  hav- 
ing ac3omplished  the  objects  of  its  sessions.  A  member  of  the  com- 
mittee informed  me  that  there  would  in  all  probability  be  three  reports — 
an  ultra-Southern — a  Popular  Sovereignty — and  a  "safe  middle  ground 
report,"  according  to  the  exceedingly  moderate  and  conservative  views 
of  our  illustrious  Administration. 

The  rumors  are  this  morning,  that  the  endeavors  to  patch  up  matters 
will  fail  entirely.  The  cohesive  power  of  public  plunder,  when  that 
plunder  is  worth  one  hundred  million  dollars  per  year,  is  tremendous, 
but  the  ferment  of  factions  here  is  such  that  this  power  may  be  over- 
come. The  Convention  has  to  choose  between  subterfuge  and  dis- 
ruption. 

It  is,  for  the  present,  the  policy  of  the  Douglas  men  not  to  excite 
controversy.  They  feel  so  confident  of  their  strength  in  the  Convention, 
that  they  are  exceedingly  anxious  to  preserve  its  unity,  that  they  may 
use  it.  If  they  could  induce  thirty  or  forty  ultra-Southern  votes  to  go 
out,  they  might  nominate  Douglas.  They  do  not  provoke  dit^cussion. 
Many  speeches  are  made  at  night,  at  the  principal  hotels,  all  extreme 
Southern  in  character.  If  a  man  should  undertake  to  make  such  a 
Democratic  speech  here  as  is  hoard  from  every  stump  of  the  North, 
favoring  the  exclusion  of  slavery  from  the  Territories  by  the  people 
thereof,  he  would  be  hooted  down  as  an  Abolitionist,  and  possibly 
mobbed  as  an  incendiary.  Several  gentlemen  were  called  out  at  the 
Mills  House  last  night.  Among  them  was  Burnett,  member  of  Con- 
gress from  Kentucky,  who  made  a  fire-eating  speech,  violently  opposing 
all  concessions  of  principle,  all  subterfuges,  all  equivocations,  all  doubt- 
ful candidates.  Tlie  speech  wa.s  a  blow  at  Douglas,  and  the  reply  of 
his  friends  who  were  in  the  crowd  was,  "Never  mind,  when  we  get  to 
voting  we  beat  them  like  hell."  0.  Jennings  Wise  made  a  speech, 
glorifying  the  State  conservatism  of  South  Carolina,  and  the  memory  of 
the  immortal  Calhoun,  who  is  referred  to  here  as  if  he  were  the  patron 
Saint  of  the  Democracy. 

Fernando  Wood  was  called  out  and  made  a  speech,  pledging  himself 
in  advance  to  the  platform  and  candidate  of  the  Convention.  Wood, 
though  excluded  from  the  Convention,  has  made  a  strongly  favorable 
impression  here.  He  is  one  of  the  first  favorites  of  the  "South  Cari- 
Uenee-ans,^^  as  they  all  style  themselves.  There  were  several  scenes 
of  uproar  in  front  of  the  hotel.  One  poor  fellow,  piteously  drunk, 
made  a  running  speech  for  half  an  hour,  during  which  the  crowd  roared  at 
him,  calling  him  all  sorts  of  names,  telling  him  to  "go  to  bed,"  etc.,  etc. 
As  the  Convention  assembles  there  are  a  dozen  rumors  about  the  plat- 
form, flying.  One  that  there  is  wonderful  harmony — another  that  thtre 
is  inten.Mi  antagonism.  The  ladies  crowd  in  in  greater  numbers  than 
ever.      "South  Caroleena"  beauty  is  well   represented.     Many  of  the 


39 

ladies  have  fine  features  but  most  of  tbem  bad  complexions.  They  are 
splendid  in  eyes  and  hair,  with  fine  profiles  and  bright  countenances, 
but  not  excellent  forms.  The  ladies  are  a  great  feature  of  the  Conven- 
tion.    The  delegates  are  desperately  gallant. 

There  {>*  a  general  understanding  this  morning  that  the  crisis  has 
arrived  at  last.  The  Convention  must  speedily  become  indivisible,  or 
it  must  separate,  and  there  are  many  here  who  sincerely  belive  that  the 
fate  of  the  country  turns  on  this  point. 

The  prayer  this  morning  has  the  advantage  of  being  heard  in  the 
hall.  And  it  is  probably  as  able  and  fervent  as  was  ever  "delivered 
to  a  Boston  audience."  Harmony  was  especially  prayed  for,  as  it  is 
especially  needed  about  these  times.     The  Reverend  gentleman  said: 

"Oh,  come.  Heavenly  Father,  and  with  Thy  spirit  guide  and  over- 
rule the  deliberations  of  those  now  present.  Grant  unto  them  that,  in 
harmony  and  peace,  and  with  a  patriotic  desire  for  the  preservation  of 
all  that  is  sacred  in  the  institutions  of  the  country,  they  may  come  to  a 
true  and  wise  conclusion  in  their  counsels.  And  not  unto  us,  not  unto 
us;  but  unto  Thee  shall  be  the  honor  and  the  glory." 

The  Convention  is  flooded  with  resolutions.  Mr.  Fitzhugh  of  Vir- 
ginia introduces  the  following : 

Resolved,  That  the  rendition  of  fugitive  slaves  and  other  property  by  one  State 
to  another  is  a  right  secured  by  the  laws  of  nations,  recognized  by  the  Colonies 
and  the  mother  country  previous  to  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  by  the 
Courts  of  Great  Britain  and  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  and 
by  the  law  and  Courts  of  all  civilized  nations,  and  a  fortiori  is  the  duty  of  the 
States  of  this  Confederacy  under  the  Constitution  and  laws. 

Renolved,  That  the  refusal  of  the  Governors  of  the  several  States  to  deliver  up 
fugitives  from  justice  and  fugitive  slaves,  is  an  open  and  palpable  violation  of 
the  above  natural  and  international  law  and  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the 
United  States,  constituting  official  perjury  by  such  Governors  as  have  evaded 
or  refused  to  perform  this  duty,  aud  if  persevered  in  must  lead  to  the  severance 
of  the  Union. 

Mr.  Hughes  of  Pennsylvania  : 

Re-solved,  That  while  recognizing  the  doctrine  that  the  General  Government 
has  no  power  to  create  in,  or  exclude  from,  by  legislation,  any  species  of  prop- 
erty in  any  State  or  Territory,  yet  we  maintain  that  it  is  the  duty  of  that  Gov- 
ernment to  provide  the  Courts  with  ample  process  and  ministerial  officers  for  the 
protection  and  enforcement  of  any  existing  right,  or  the  correction  cf  any 
wrong,  over  which  said  Governmeut,  under  the  Constitution,  has  jurisdiction. 

Mr.  Browne  of  Pennsylvania  moved  the  following : 

Resolved.  That  the  citizens  of  the  several  States  when  emigrating  into  a  Federal 
Territory,  retain  the  right  to  slave  and  other  property  which  they  take  with  them , 
until  there  is  some  prohibition  by  lawful  authority  ;  and  that,  as  declared  by  the 
Suprems  Court,  Cougress  cannot  interfere  with  such  right  in  a  Territory,  nor  can 
a  Territorial  Leijislature  do  so,  until  authorized  by  the  adoption  of  a  State  Con- 
stitution ;  and  that  the  attempted  exercise  of  such  a  function  by  a  Territorial 
Legislature  is  unconstitutional,  aud  dangerous  to  the  peace  of  the  Union. 

Mr.  Walker  of  Alabama  : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government,  in  all  its  departments 
within  their  constitutional  sphere,  to  afford  adeqate  protection  and  equal  advan- 
tage to  all  descriptions  of  property  recognized  as  such  by  the  laws  of  any  of  the 


40 

States  ftp  well  within  the  Territories  &b  upon  the  high-Bcas,  and  CTcry  place  sub- 
ject to  its  excluuive  power  of  Icgiskation. 

Mr.  Wall  of  Tenncsee  offered  the  following  refiolutions,  being  the 
Platform  advocated  by  that  State  : 

Be  it  lieadvtd.  That  we  hcrel)y  reaffirm  the  principles  announced  in  the  Plat- 
form of  the  Democratic  partj,  adopted  in  Convention  at  Cincinnati,  in  June, 
18JG,  and  that  we  hold  thuni  to  be  a  true  exposition  of  our  doctrines  on  the  8ul>- 
jects  emlwaci'd. 

Resolved,  That  the  views  expressed  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
in  the  dicision  of  the  case  of  "  Dred  Scott."  are,  in  our  opinion,  a  true  and  clear 
exposition  of  the  powers  reposed  in  Congress  upon  the  sulyect  of  the  Territories 
of  the  United  States,  and  the  rights  guaranteed  to  the  residents  in  the  Territories. 

Kenolved,  That  the  States  of  tK-  Coiifedcraey  are  equals  in  political  rights  ;  each 
State  has  the  right  to  settle  for  itself  all  questions  of  internal  policy  :  th>'  right 
to  have  or  not  to  have  slavery,  is  one  of  the  prerogatives  of  self-government — 
the  States  did  not  surrender  this  right  in  the  Federal  Constitutioa,  and  Tennes- 
see will  not  now  do  so. 

Resolved,  That  the  Federal  Government  has  no  power  to  interfere  with  slavery 
in  the  Slates,  mir  to  introduce  or  exclude  it  trom  the  Territories,  and  no  duty  to 
p  rri>rni  in  relation  then'to.  but  to  protect  the  rights  of  the  owner  from  wrong 
and  to  restore  fugitives  from  labor;  these  duties  it  cannot  withhold  without  a 
violation  of  the  Constitution. 

Rexobed.  That  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  upon  strictly  xertional 
principles,  and  its  hostility  to  the  institution  of  slavery,  which  is  recognized  t>y 
the  Constitution,  and  which  is  inseparalily  connected  with  the  social  and  indus- 
trial pursuits  of  the  Southern  States  of  the  Confederacy,  is  war  upon  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Constitution  and  upon  the  rights  of  the  States. 

Rewlved,  That  the  late  treasonal)lo  invasion  of  Virginia  l>y  an  organized  band 
of  Republicans,  was  the  necessary  result  of  the  dwtrines.  teachings  and  princi- 
ples of  that  party  ;  was  the  beginning  of  the  "  irrejyressiik  conjiicl''  of  Mr.  Sew- 
ard ;  was  a  blow  aimed  at  the  institution  of  slavery  by  an  effort  to  excite  a  servile 
insurrection  ;  was  war  upon  the  South,  and  as  such,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  South 
to  prepare  to  maintain  its  rights  under  the  Constitution. 

Resolved,  That  if  this  war  upon  the  Constitutional  rights  of  the  South  is  per- 
sisted in,  it  must  soon  cease  to  be  a  war  of  words.  If  the  Republican  party 
woiiM  prevent  a  conjiki  of  arms,  let  them  stand  by  the  Constitution  and  fultill  its 
obligatious — wc  ask  nothing  more,  we  will  submit  to  nothing  less. 

Mr.  Wolfe  of  Indiana  moved  the  following : 

Resolved,  That  the  Federal  Government  has  no  power  to  interfere  with  .slavery 
in  the  States,  nor  to  introduce  or  e.xchide  it  from  the  Temtories.  and  no  duty  to 
perform  in  relation  thereto,  but  to  faithfully  enforce  the  Fugitive  Slave  law. 
and  all  the  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  in  regard  to 
all  the  rights  of  the  people  of  every  State  and  Territory  under  the  Constitutioa 
of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Glenn  of  Mississippi  presented  the  following : 

1.  A  citizen  of  any  State  in  the  Union  may  immigrate  to  the  Territories  with 
his  property,  whether  it  consists  of  slaves  or  any  other  subject  of  personal  own- 
ership. 

2.  So  long  as  the  Territorial  condition  exists  the  relation  of  master  and  slave 
is  not  to  be  disturbed  by  Fed  ral  or  Territorial  legislation  ;  and  if  so  disturbed 
the  Federal  Government  must  furnish  ampli'  protection  therefor. 

3.  Whenever  a  Territory  shall  beentitbd  to  admission  into  the  Union  as  a 
State  tlie  inhabitants  may,  in  fornving  their  Constitution,  decide  for  themselves 
whether  it  shall  authorize  or  exclude  slavery. 


41 

Mr.  Horn  of  Wisconsin  offered  the  following : 

Rexolved,  That  the  letter  of  President  Buchanan  accepting  the  nomination  at 
Cincinnati,  where  he  explains  the  Cincinnati  Platform  in  relation  to  the  power  of 
a  Territorial  Leoislature  on  the  subject  of  slavery  is  eminently  sound,  and  is 
hereby  referred  to  the  committee  on  Resolutions  for  their  consideration. 

Mr.  Mouton  of  Louisiana  offered  the  following  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Territories  of  the  United  States  belong  to  the  several  States 
as  their  common  property,  and  not  to  the  individual  citizens  thereof^ — that  the 
Federal  Constitution  recognizes  property  in  slaves,  and  as  such  the  owner  thereof 
is  entitled  to  carry  his  slaves  into  any  Territory  of  the  United  States  and  hold 
them  as  property.  And  in  case  the  people  of  the  Territori<  s  by  inaction,  un- 
friendly legislation  or  otherwise,  should  endanger  the  tenure  of  such  property  or 
discriminate  against  it  by  withholding  that  protection  given  to  this  species  of 
property  iu  the  Territories,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  General  Government  to  inter- 
pose, h\  an  active  exertion  of  its  Constitutional  powers  to  secure  the  rights  of 
slaveholders. 

Mr.  Greenfield  of  Kentucky  offered  the  following  : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  National  Government  to  provide,  by  law, 
for  paying  for  such  fugitives  from  labor  as,  by  the  illegal  interposition  of  State 
authorities,  the  owners  thereof  may  be  prevented  from  receiving  under  the  Fu- 
gitive Slave  law. 

Mr.  Bidwell  of  California  moved  the  following : 

Resolved,  That  our  States  and  Territories  on  the  Pacific,  and  the  Territories  of 
the  Great  Basin,  and  of  both  slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  demand  the  early 
construction  of  a  railroad  to  counect  them  with  the  internal  navigation  and  rail- 
way system  of  the  A  llantic  States ;  and  that  on  the  ground  of  puslal  communi- 
cation, protection  of  Territories  and  States,  and  of  military  defense,  the  General 
Goverument  ha.s  accepted  authority  under  the  Constitution. 

Mr.  Craig  of  Missouri  offered  the  following : 

Resolved.  That  the  Democratic  party  are  in  favor  of  granting  such  constitution- 
al aid  as  will  insure  the  speedy  construction  of  a  railroad  connecting  the  Atlan- 
tic and  Pacific  States. 

Mr.  Stout  of  Oregon  offered  the  following  : 

Resolved,  That  to  preserve  the  Union,  the  equality  of  States  must  be  maintain- 
ed, and  every  branch  of  the  Federal  Government  should  exercise  all  their  Con- 
stitutional powers  for  the  protection  of  pei'sons  and  property. 

Mr.  McConnell  of  Illinois  offered  the  following : 

Resolved,  That  the  Federal  Government  has  no  power  to  interfere  with  slavery 
in  the  States,  or  to  introduce  it  or  exclude  it  from  the  Territories,  and  has  no 
duty  to  perform  in  relation  thereto,  except  to  secure  the  rights  of  the  owner  by 
a  return  of  the  fugitive  slave,  as  provided  by  the  Constitution. 


/■        Mr.  Seward  of  Georgia  presented  the  following ; 


Resolved.  That  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  extends  to  the  several 
States,  and  to  every  citizen,  the  full  protection  of  persons  and  property  in  all 
the  States  and  Territories,  and  that  those  rights,  as  declared  and  determined  by 
the  Courts,  under  the  Constitution,  are  to  be  respected  and  maintained  by  the 
Government  of  the  United  States;  and  that  James  Guthrie  of  Kentucky  be  the 
nominee  of  the  Democratic  party  for  President  of  the  United  States,  on  this 
platfurm. 


42 

Mr.  Cessna  of  Pennsylvania  offered  the  following : 

Raoleed.  That  the  convictions  of  thi-  Dimotratic  parly  of  the  country  remain 
UDshakf  u  in  the  wisdom  ivnd  justice  of  an  adiqiiate  prot<.clioii  of  iron,  coul.  wool, 
and  the  other  preat  staples  of  our  country,  based  upon  the  ncctseitiis  of  a  rea- 
sonable revenue  nyst^m  of  the  General  Government ;  and  approving  of  the  views 
of  President  Buchanan  upon  the  subj-ct  of  spi-ci  fie  duties,  we  earnestly  def^i  re  our 
Representatives  in  Congress  to  produce  such  modifications  of  the  existing  laws 
as  the  unwise  legislation  of  the  Republican  party  in  1857  renders  absolutely 
necessary  to  the  prosperity  of  the  great  interests  of  the  country. 

Capt.  Rynders  wanted  protection  extended  over  Monongahela  whiskey. 

All  these  resolutions  were  referred  to  the  committee  on  Platform. 

Resolutions  became  ridiculous,  and  on  motion  of  Mr.  Pugh,  it  was 
voted  that  they  should  in  future  be  referred  without  reading. 

This  was  throwing  the  mantle  over  the  nakedness  of  the  party.  Mr. 
Pugh  is  a  good  boy. 

The  committee  on  Resolutions  being  still  in  travail,  almost  hopeless, 
the  Convention  adjourned  until  4  P.  M.,  having  no  business  before  it. 

The  evening  session  amounted  to  nothing.  There  was  much  talk  of 
"  the  crisis  " — and  the  Convention  adjourned  in  a  hopeless  mood. 

Theie  is  but  one  course  for  it  to  pursue  and  be  honest — that  is.  di- 
vide. They  cannot  agree,  and  every  man  in  the  Convention  knows 
they  cannot.  Cool-headed  men  here  are  impressed  that  the  chances  in 
the  next  campaign  are  with  the  Chicago  nominee.  This  thing  is  in  a 
hopeless  jumble.  The  South  has  driven  the  Northern  Democracy  to 
the  wall,  and  now  insists  upon  protection  of  slavery  in  the  Territories. 
In  other  words,  insists  upon  the  political  execution  of  every  Northern 
Democrat,  and  the  total  destruction  of  the  Democratic  party.  The 
Northern  Democracy  here  are  smitten  with  great  terrors,  and  are  wil- 
ling to  do  almost  any  thing  for  harmony,  but  bow  their  necks  to  the 
knife  of  their  political  opponents.  They  are  unwilling  to  submit  them- 
selves to  assassination  or  to  commit  suicide.  And  the  South  will  not 
yield  a  jot  of  its  position  as  master  of  the  party,  nor  abate  its  devotion 
to  constitutional  abstractions  and  the  propagandism  of  slavery.  It  is 
perfectly  clear,  glaringly  apparent  here,  seen  in  every  face,  heard  in  every 
voice,  and  pervades  the  city  like  an  atmosphere,  that  the  doctrine  of  the 
Democratic  party  must  be  that  of  exerting  all  powers  of  the  Federal 
Government  for  the  extension  of  slavery,  and  the  increase  of  the  polit- 
cal  power  of  the  master  class  of  the  Southern  section.  The  record  of 
this  Convention  will  prove  this  fact  to  a  demonstration.  The  wurd  is 
just  now  that  the  committee  will  agree  upon  a  platform  which  will  be 
adopted.  But  the  most  sagacious  of  the  politicians  are  uneasy.  The 
sessions  of  the  committee  on  Resolutions  arc  protracted  and  exciting. 
Their  labor  of  splitting  hairs  is  enormous.  And  they  know  they  must 
bring  in  a  subterfuge,  or  throw  a  bomb-shell. 


43 
FIFTH    DAY 


Institute  Halt..      ) 


Charleston,  S.  C,  April  27th. 

The  crisis  which  was  to  have  arrived  yesterday,  was  postponed  by  the 
failure  of  the  committee  on  Platform  to  report  The  committee,  when 
the  Convention  came  together  this  morning,  was  still  unprepared. 

The  reports  were  not  made  until  half-past  eleven  o'clock,  when  Mr. 
Avery  of  North  Carolina  precented  the  following  from  a  majority  of  the 
committee  on  Resolutions : 

MAJOKITT   REPORT. 

Resolved,  That  the  platform  adopted  at  Cincinnati  be  aflBrmed,  with  the  follow- 
ing resoliitious : 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  Democracy  of  the  United  States  hold  these  cardinal 
principles  on  the  subject  of  slavery  in  the  Territories  :  First.  That  Congress 
has  no  power  to  abolish  slavery  in  the  Territories.  Second.  That  the  Territorial 
Legislature  has  no  power  to  abolish  slavery  in  any  Territory,  nor  to  prohibit  the 
introduction  of  slaves  therein,  nor  any  power  to  exclude  slavery  therefrom,  nor 
any  right  to  destroy  or  impair  the  right  of  property  in  slaves  by  any  legislation 
whatever. 

2.  Resolved,  That  the  enactments  of  State  Legislatures  to  defeat  the  faithful 
execution  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  law  are  hostile  in  character,  subversive  of  the 
Constitution,  and  revolutionary  in  their  eflfect. 

3.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government  to  protect,  when 
necessary,  the  rights  of  persons  and  property  on  the  high-seas,  in  the  Territo- 
ries, or  wherever  else  its  constitutional  authority  extends. 

4.  Resolved.  That  the  Democracy  of  the  nation  recognize  it  as  the  impera- 
tive duty  of  this  Government  to  protect  the  naturalized  citizen  in  all  his  rights, 
whether  at  home  or  in  foreign  lands,  to  the  same  extent  as  its  native-born  citi- 
zens. 

5.  Resolved,  That  the  National  Democracy  earnestly  recomend  the  acquisi- 
tion of  the -Island  of  Cuba,  at  the  earliest  practicable  period. 

Whereas,  that  one  of  the  greatest  necessities  of  the  age.  in  a  political,  com- 
mercial, postal  and  military  point  of  view,  is  a  speedy  communication  between 
the  Pacific  and  Atlantic  coasts  :    Therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  National  Democratic  party  do  hereby  pledge  themselves  to 
use  every  means  in  their  power  to  secure  the  pa.ssage  of  some  bill  for  the  con- 
struction of  it  PaciQc  Railroad,  from  the  western  line  of  the  Mississippi  River  to 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment. 

Mr.  Avery  was  instructed,  as  chairman  of  the  committee,  to  report 
this  Platform.  He  was  further  instructed  to  say  that  entire  unanimi- 
ty did  not  prevail  on  a  portion  of  the  resolutions. 

The  first  and  third  resolutions  in  relation  to  slavery  in  the  Territo- 
ries, and  the  duty  of  the  General  Government  to  protect  the  right  of 
person  and  property,  were  adopted  by  a  bare  majority  of  the  committee. 
The  second  resolution,  in  relation  to  the  Fugitive  Slave  law,  and  the 
fourth  resolution,  \n  relation  to  naturalized  citizens,  were  adopted  unan- 
imously, and  the  fifth  resolution,  in  relation  to  the  acquisition  of  Cuba, 
was  adopted  without  a  division.  The  last  resolution  of  the  series,  in 
reference  to  the  Pacific  Railroad,  was  adopted  by  a  majority  vote. 

Mr.  Payne  of  Ohio  submitted  the 

MINORITY   REPORT. 

The  undersigned,  a  minority  of  the  committee  on  Resolutions,  regretting  their 
inability  to  concur  with  the  report  of  the  majority  of  your  committee,  feel  con- 


44 

Htraincd  lo  submit  iW  followin<j  ob  thoir  rcjmrt,  and  ncomnund  it«  adoption  as 
a  substlluto  li>r  ilif  r.  jxnt  of  tin-  imijurlty. 
Ituspcctfullv  Miltmittcd, 

AMOS  ROBERTS,  dfltp'ttf  from  Main". 

\V.  I'.ritNS.  d<lf;;iili-  from  New  Hiiinii-hire. 

E.  M.  liROWN.  d.li'^'utf  from  Virniont. 

C.  S.  1U{AI)!-I-:V,  d.l.^atp  from  Rhode  Island. 

A.  fJ.  H  aZZARIJ.  di  Icjiuti-  frdiii  (Joiuicctiiiil. 

15KNJ.  WILIJAMSON,  d.'lcgutc  from  New  Ji-rst-y. 

II.  1!.  I'AYNt:.  dLlii,'afe  from  Oiiio. 

P.  C.  DUNKING,  dcl(f,'ate  from  Indiann. 
y  O.  B.  KICK  MS.  d.l.'^Mte  from  lIlinoiK 

G.  V.  N.  LOTIIROP,  del.>f|;at<'  from  Miil.igan. 

A.  vS.  I'ALMER,  di'lcpilo  from  Wi.-coiisin. 

BEN.  M.  SAMUEL,  dchgate  from  Iowa. 

J.^S.  M.  CAVANAUGII,  dtlcgate  from  Miiin.sota. 

EDWIN  ('ROSWELL,  delegate  from  New  Voik. 

H.  B.  WRIGHT,  delegate  from  Penufylvania. 

The  natne  of  Mr.  Croswell  was  followed  hy  the  note  (hat  he  signed 
the  report  in  accordance  with  the  wi.^hes  of  his  delegation,  and  agreed 
with  the  resolutions  as  far  as  they  went.  The  resolutions  of  the  minor- 
ity, which  he  would  read,  ccntained  one  or  two  re.'-olutions  similar  to 
those  of  the  majority  ;  but  as  they  hoped  their  report  would  be  the 
platform  of  the  party,  they  had  thought  it  best  to  embody  these  in  that 
report.     The  resolutions  are  as  follows  : 

1.  Rrfohrd.  That  wo.  the  Democracy  of  the  Union,  in  Convention  assrmhkd, 
hereby  declare  our  affirmance  of  the  resolutions  unanimously  udniiti  d  and  de- 
clared as  a  platform  of  principles  by  the  Democratic  Convention  at  Cincinnati 
in  the  year  IS.iO,  believing  that  Democratic  principles  are  unchangeable  in  their 
nature  wli"n  applied  to  the  same  subject-matters;  and  we  recomnuMid,  a.s  the 
only  further  resolutions,  the  following  : 

2.  IlcMilreil,  That  ail  questions  in  regard  to  the  rights  of  property  in  States 
or  Territories  arising  under  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  are  judicial  in 
their  character,  and  the  Democratic  party  is  pledged  to  abide  by  and  faithfully 
carry  out  such  determination  of  these  questions  as  has  been  or  uuiy  be  made  by 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

3.  Itesolred,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  United  States  to  afford  ample  and  com- 
plete protection  to  all  its  citizens,  whether  at  home  or  abroad,  and  whether  na- 
tive or  foreign-born. 

4.  Eemh-rd.  That  one  of  the  necessities  of  the  age.  in  a  military,  commercial 
and  postal  ]>oint  of  view,  is  spredy  communication  between  tlie  .Atlantic  and 
Pacific  States  :  and  the  Democratic  party  jjledge  such  Constituti<jnal  Govern- 
ment aid  as  will  insure  the  construction  of  a  Railroad  to  the  Pacific  coast,  at 
the  earliest  practicable  period. 

5.  Rrsdlvid.  That  th'  Democratic  party  are  in  favor  of  the  acquisition  of  the 
Island  of  Cuba,  on  such  terms  as  shall  be  honorable  to  ourselves  and  just  to 
Spain. 

C.  Iiciolveii,  That  the  enactments  of  State  Eegi.slatures  to  defeat  the  faithful 
execution  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  law,  are  hostile  in  character,  subver.-ive  of  the 
Constitution,  and  revolutionary  in  their  effect. 

Mr.  B.  F.  Butler  of  Massachu.ietts  presented  the  following  minority 
report,  signed  by  iiimself  as  a  substitute  for  the  amemlnicnt  proposed 
by  the  gentleman  from  Ohio  : 

Ii<  sill  nil.  That  we.  the  Democracy  of  the  Union,  in  Convention  as.^embled, 
hereby  declare  our  atlirmance  of  the  DiMuocratic  Resolutions  unanimously 
adopted  and  di  clared  as  a  Platform  of  Principles  at  Cincinnati,  in  the  year 
1.S5G,  without  addition  or  alteration,  l>clieviDg  that  Democratic  principles  are 


45 

unchangeable  in  their  nature,  when  applied  to  the  same  subject-matter,  and  we 
recdmmend  as  the  only  farther  resolution,  the  following  : 

Eexulred,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  United  States  to  extend  its  protection 
alike  over  all  its  citizens,  whether  native  or  naturalized. 

A  minority  of  your  committee  have  agreed  to  report  the  above  as  the  sole 
resolutions  upon  the  subject  of  the  principles  of  the  party. 
lu  behalf  of  a  minority  of  the  committee, 

B.  F.  BUTLER. 

Mr.  Cochrane  of  New  York  gave  notice  that  as  soon  as  one  of  the 
amendments  was  out  of  the  way  he  would  offer  the  following  : 

Beaoli'cd,  That  the  several  States  of  this  Union  are,  undi  r  the  Constitution, 
equal,  iind  that  the  people  thereof  are  entithd  to  the  free  and  undisturbed  pos- 
session and  enjoyment  of  their  rights  of  person  and  property  in  the  common 
Territories,  and  that  any  attempt  by  Congress  or  a  Territorial  Legislature  to 
annul,  abridge  or  discriminate  against  any  such  equality  or  rights  would  be  un- 
wise in  policy  and  npugnant  to  the  Constitution  ;  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
Federal  Government,  whenever  such  rights  are  violated,  to  afford  the  necessary, 
proper  and  constitutional  remedies  for  such  violations. 

liesohcd,  That  the  I'lalform  ot  Principles  adopted  by  the  Convention  held  in 
Cincinnati,  in  1S56,  and  the  foregoing  resolutions,  are  hereby  declared  to  be  the 
Platform  of  the  Democratic  party. 

A  dreary  discussion  followed.  Mr.  Avery  spoke  first,  going  over 
the  usual  ground  traversed  by  Southern  gentlemen  of  second-rate  abili- 
ties in  dismissing  the  slavery  question. 

Mr.  Clark  of  Missouri  interrupted  him  in  the  course  of  his  remarks, 
saying  he  was  one  of  the  majority  who  had  indorsed  the  platform.  The 
gentleman  had  alluded  to  bis  State  as  one  that  stood  by  the  report. 
He  wanted  to  announce  to  the  Convention  that  he  did  not  approve 
wholly  of  the  report,  and  would  not  vote  for  the  first  resolution  in  the 
report.  He  had  signed  the  report  only  in  order  to  enable  the  committee 
to  report. 

ISlr.  Avery  did  not  make  much  headway. 

Mr.  Payne  of  Ohio  defended  the  minority  report.  He  made  a  vig- 
orous speech,  deeply  earnest,  and  strongly  fortified  his  position  by  ex- 
tracts from  the  speeches  of  Southern  gentlemen.  He  said  of  the  action 
of  the  Platform  committee  : 

He  deemed  it  due  to  say,  by  way  of  testimony  for  all  his  colleagues 
on  the  committee,  that  they  had,  for  three  days,  soberly,  earnestly  and 
solemnly  discussed  the  issues  that  now  divide  the  Demociatic  party. 

It  is  not  a  personal  victory  they  seek  to  achieve,  but  every  gentleman 
had,  he  believed,  felt  in  his  conscience  and  in  his  heart,  that  upon  the 
result  of  the  deliberation  of  the  Convention,  in  all  huujan  probability, 
depended  the  fate  of  the  Democratic  party  and  the  destiny  of  the  Union, 
and  they  wouhl  have  been  no  patriots  if  they  had  brought  into  their 
deliberations  any  but  an  earnest  desire  to  adjust  the  diti'erences  that 
exist  in  the  party.  It  was  with  that  purpo.-e  and  that  feeling  that  he 
took  a  seat  in  the  Convention  and  on  the  committee;  and  if  he  knew 
his  own  heart,  there  is  no  personal  sacrifice  he  would  not  make,  short 
of  his  honor,  to  rekiiulle  the  spirit  of  harmony  that  prevailed  in  former 
days  in  the  Democratic  party  of  the  Union.  But  there  existed  aditier- 
ence  between  the  members  of  the  committee.  Afier  a  protracted  dis- 
cussion they  had   been  unable  to  agree,  and  it  was  the  mo.-t  painful  act 


46 

of  his  political  life  when  he  found  himself  corapelled  to  dissent  from  the 
majority  of  the  committeo  in  their  6nal  action. 

In  conclusion,  he  asked  the  South  : 

Are  you  for  a  very  abstraction  going  to  yield  the  chance  of  sueces."? 
Is  there  any  disposition  to  rob  you  of  your  political  influence  on  the 
part  of  your  Northern  brethren  V 

We  say  we  tcill  abide  by  the  decision  of  the  Courts.  The  Dred 
Scott  decision  having  been  rendered  since  the  Cincinnati  Platform  was 
adopted,  renders  this  proper.  We  will  take  that  decision,  and  abide 
by  it  like  loyal,  steadfast,  true-hearted  men.     Is  not  that  enough? 

He  would  appeal  to  the  South  to  put  no  weights  upon  the  North — to 
let  them  run  this  race  unfettered  and  unhampered.  If  the  apj»eal  is 
answered,  theNorth  will  do  her  duty  in  the  struggle.  Should  the 
platform  of  the  majority  be  adopted,  he  would  go  home  and  do  his 
best ;  but  hopeless  of  success.  But  he  would  ask,  in  that  case,  that 
his  gallant  Southern  friends  who  desire  to  spend  their  summer  farther 
North,  would  visit  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  join  in  the  battle  on  the 
Western  Reserve. 

Gen.  Butler  of  Massachusetts  proceeded  to  dissect  both  platforms, 
and  did  it  with  an  incisive  ferocity  that  was  refreshing  to  behold.  The 
Cincinnati  Platform  had  had  two  interpretations  placed  upon  it.  eh  !  So 
had  the  Bil)le  and  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  Gentlemen 
could  not  construct  a  platform  that  would  not  have  a  double  interpreta- 
tion. 

The  "  rights  of  persons  and  property  on  the  high-seas  "  to  the  pro- 
tection of  the  Federal  Government,  were  asserted  by  Gen.  Butler  to  be 
capable  of  a  construction,  showing  it  to  assert  the  duty  of  Government 
to  protect  the  African  slave-trade.  The  General  was  assured  that  the 
South  did  not  moan  that,  but  the  construction  could  not  be  got  rid  of. 
It  would  adhere,  and  would,  if  it  were  adopted,  do  the  Northern  De- 
mocracy incalculable  mischief.  Gen.  Butler  was  right  in  this.  The 
resolution  asserts  the  duty  of  Government  to  protect  slavery  in  the 
Territories  no  more  clearly  than  its  duty  to  protect  the  slave-trade  on 
the  high-seas,  and  such,  doubtless,  was  the  intention  of  the  writer  of 
the  resolutions. 

.^r.  Butler  waded  into  the  platform  presented  by  Mr.  Payne  of  Ohio. 
He  said  the  Cincinnati  Platform  contained  a  resolution  on  the  annexa- 
tion of  Cuba,  much  more  delicately,  diplomatically  and  properly  ex- 
pressed, than  that  in  Mr.  Payne's  report.  He  was  not  in  favtir  of  the 
Pacific  Railroad.  Thi.s  doctrine  of  internal  improvements  by  Govern- 
ment, was  a  new  thing  for  the  Democratic  party.  It  was  not  accurding 
to  his  style  of  democracy.  The  first  part  of  the  resolution  in  the  mi- 
nority report — that  clause  in  reference  to  slavery  in  the  Territories,  as- 
serting the  question  of  property  to  be  a  judicial  question,  was  a  mere 
trui.-iu  when  considered  in  the  sense  in  which  it  was  meant.  The 
second  part  of  that  resolution  was  very  dangerous.  It  pledged  the 
Democratic  party  to  all  the  decisions  the  Supreme  Court  might  make. 
Was  tliis  the  doctrine  of  Old  Hickory?  Why.  it  would  be  enough  to 
make  the  bones  of  old  Jackson  rattle  in  his  coffin,  to  have  such  a  reso- 
lution as  that  entertained  by  a  Democratic  Convention.     Suppose  the 


47 

Democratic  party  should  be  divided,  by  some  foolish  differences  arising 
here,  and  Wm.  H  Seward  should  become  next  President  of  the  United 
States. 

The  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  were  old  men.  and  some  of  them 
would  soon  die.  Seward  proposed,  at  any  rate,  to  reorganize  the  Su- 
preme Court.  "Was  the  South  ready  to  indorse  in  advance  all  the  de- 
cisions of  the  Supreme  Court,  when  it  might  become  Black  Republican, 
when  Seward  might  have  the  manufacture  of  it?  There  were  shouts  of 
"  No,  no.;' 

The  Convention  adjourned  when  Gen.  Butler  concluded  his  speech, 
taking  a  recess  until  four  o'clock.  There  were  hundreds  of  ladies  in 
the  hall  without  umbrellas  in  hand  or  carriages  at  command,  and  during 
the  morning  session  the  rain  commenced  falling  heavily.  The  long 
drouth  was  over  at  last.  The  people  in  the  ball  were  in  a  bad  condi- 
tion, but  the  city  and  the  country  need  the  rain  badly. 

Manyiof  the  ladies  contrived  to  do  without  their  dinners  and  spent 
the  recess  in  their  gallery.  The  poor  creatures,  with  their  new  dresses 
and  loves  of  bonnets,  were  in  sore  tribulation.  The  atmojiphere  of  the 
hall  was  already  damp  and  chilly, — and  their  fine  feathers  are  drooping. 

The  doctrinal  position  of  the  Democracy  as  displayed  in  the  debate 
to-day,  is  pitiable  enough.  It  is  indeed  ridiculous  and  absurd  for  this 
body  of  delegates  to  be  pretending  to  try  to  agree  on  a  platform,  when 
the  whole  country,  themselves  included,  know  well  their  disagreements 
are  radical  and  absolute.  \- 

AFTERNOON    SESSION. 

The  first  thing  after  the  Convention  was  called  to  order  in  the  after- 
noon, was  a  speech  from  Mr.  Barksdale,  editor  of  the  IMississippian, 
which  was  a  clear,  well-expressed,  shrewd,  and  keen  nltra-Southern 
speech,  demanding  the  protection  of  slavery  in  the  Territories,  and  in- 
sisting upon  adhering  to  principle  rather  than  consulting  expediency. 

Mr.  Barksdale  is,  I  presume,  a  more  forcible  writer  than  speaker. 
The  speech  which  he  made  to-day  will  read  better  than  it  sounded.  He 
is  a  disciple  of  Jefferson  Davis.  His  personal  appearance  is  much  in 
his  favor  ;  but  he  is  full  of  fire  and  prone  to  fly  off  the  handle.  Some 
expressions  of  his  countenance  are  very  amiable ;  but  there  is  a  dan- 
gerous glitter  in  his  eye,  and  his  thin,  white  lips  are,  when  in  repose, 
shut  like  the  jaws  of  a  steel  clasp. 

Mr.  King  of  Missouri,  an  old  Tom  Benton  Democrat,  who  has  only 
recently  repented  of  associations  with  Frank  Blair,  B.  Gratz  Brown  and 
Co.,  followed.  He  made  an  ultra-Douglas  speech,  indorsing  the  North- 
ern Democracy  in  the  most  unqualified  manner.  He  told  the  South 
that  their  demand  for  the  protection  of  slavery  in  the  Territories  would, 
if  persisted  in,  result  in  a  Black  llepublican  Congress,  which  would  give 
them  such  protection  as  wolves  gave  lambs. 

_AIr.  King  is  an  elderly  gentleman,  who  impresses  all  who  hear  him 
that  he  is  thoroughly  sincere.  He  was  put  forward  by  the  Douglasites 
as  a  Southerner  to  answer  Barksdale,  and  his  effort  was  warmly  ap- 
plauded by  the  Northern  faction  of  the  party.    He  stated  in  commendation 


48 

of  Northern  Democrats  that  they  were  always  willing  to  assist  in  return- 
ing fugitive  slaves.  Wherever  a  Southerner,  when  hunting  h  s  peculiar 
property  gone  astray,  eould  find  a  sound  Democrat,  lie  was  certain  of 
sympathy  and  assistance.  lie  lamented  the  injustice  done  hy  the  South 
to  Northern  Democrats,  and  deplored  the  hard  political  fate  of  those  in 
the  North  who  stood  up  for  the  South,  and  fought  the  battles  of  her 
rightij.  He  appealed  to  the  South  not  to  drive  the  Northern  Democracy 
to  the  wall,  and  alienate  them,  and  thereby  secure  the  election  of  Sew- 
ard to  the  Presidency. 

^Ir.  Yancey  of  Alabama  rose  to  reply  and  received  a  perfect  ovation. 
The  hall  for  .veveral  minutes  rang  with  applause.  It  appeared  at  once 
that  the  outside  pressure  was  with  the  lire-eaters. 

]\Ir.  Yancey  is  a  very  mild  and  gentlemanly  man,  always  wearing  a 
genuinely  gdod  humored  smile,  and  looking  as  if  nothing  in  tlie  w(jrld 
could  disturb  the  equanimity  of  his  spirits.  He  commenced  by  saying 
that  no  time  could  be  more  appropriate  for  an  Alabamian  to  be  hoard,  than 
after  the  strange  and  unnatural  speech  they  had  just  heard  from  a  son 
of  the  Souih  (Mr.  King).  Mr.  Yancey  asked  for  more  time  than  was 
allowed  by  the  rules  of  the  Convention,  and  by  common  consent  was 
allowed  an  additional  half  hour.  He  filled  up  his  lime  (an  hour  and  a 
half)  with  great  effect.  There  was  no  question  after  he  had  been  upon 
the  platform  a  few  minutes,  that  he  was  a  man  of  remarkable  gifts  of 
intellect  and  captivating  powers  as  a  speaker  He  reviewed  the  differ- 
ences on  the  slavery  question  of  the  Democracy.  He  charged  that  the 
defeats  of  the  Democracy  in  the  North  were  to  be  traced  to  the  pander- 
ing by  the  party  in  the  free  States  to  anti-slavery  sentiments  ;  they  had 
not  come  up  to  the  high  ground  which  must  be  taken  on  the  suliject,  in 
order  to  defend  the  South — namely,  that  slavery  was  right.  He  re- 
viewed the  Kansas  question,  and  detected  enormity  in  the  action  of 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  and  his  followers,  in  refusing  to  admit  Kansiis  into 
the  Union  as  a  slave  State  under  the  Lecompton  Constitution,  and  sor- 
rowed over  the  fact  that  only  three  constitutional  Democrats  were  to  be 
tound  in  the  Northern  States  to  vote  against  the  admission  of  Kansas 
under  the  Wyandotte  Constitution.  He  traced  the  hi.story  of  Northern 
aggression  and  Southern  concession  as  he  understood  it.  He  spoke  of 
the  deep  distrust  the  South  had  begun  to  entertain  of  the  Northern  De- 
mocracy, and  urged  the  propriety  of  the  demand  of  the  South,  that  the 
Democrat i(r  party  should  now  take  clear  and  high  ground  upon  a  consti- 
tutional basis.  He  pronounced  false  all  charges  that  the  State  of  Ala- 
bama, himself  or  his  colleagues,  were  in  favor  of  a  dissolution  of  the 
Union  per  se.  l>ut,  he  t(dd  the  Democracy  of  the  North  that  tluy  must, 
in  taking  high  constitutional  ground,  go  before  the  people  of  the  North 
and  tell  them  of  the  inevitabU;  dissolution  of  the  Union  if  constitutional 
principles  did  not  prevail  at  the  baUot-boxes.  He  spoke  of  the  Demo- 
cratic indor.'^ement  which  the  majority  platform  had  received,  S;iying  that 
not  one  State  which  had  voted  against  it,  in  committee,  could  be  ctTtuin- 
ly  relied  upon  to  ca.st  Democratic  electoral  votes,  while  every  State  that 
had  sufiported  that  platform,  with  but  one  exception  (^Maryland)  could, 
upon  that  plitlonn,  bo  counted  abfolutcdy  certain  in  the  «dectoral 
college  for  the  Di  mocratic  candidate.      He  spoke  directly  to  Southern 


49 

men  and  appealed  to  them  to  present  a  united  front  in  favor  of  a  plat- 
form that  recognized  their  rights  and  guaranteed  their  honor.  He  said 
defeat  upon  principle  was  better  than  a  mere  victory  gained  by  present- 
ing ambiguous  issues  and  cheating  the  people.  He  referred  to  the  de- 
feat of  the  Democratic  party  when  it  made  a  fight  on  principles  against 
coon-skins  and  log  cabins  in  1840,  and  called  attention  to  the  over- 
whelming tide  on  which  they  rode  again  into  power — the  tide  of  the 
"second  sober  thought  of  the  people."  The  Southerners  in  the  hall 
were  thoroughly  warmed  up  by  his  speech,  and  applauded  with  raptur- 
ous enthusiasm.  Several  of  his  points  were  received  with  outbursts  of 
applause  that  rung  around  the  hall  as  if  his  hearers  had  been  made  to 
shout  and  stamp  by  the  simultaneous  action  of  electricity.  One  of  his 
most  effective  points  was  in  relation  to  the  Drod  Scott  decision  and  the 
plea  made  by  Douglas  and  others  that  almost  all  of  it  was  mere  ohiter 
dicta.  This  plea  was  disrespectful  to  the  venerable  njan,  who,  clothed 
in  the  supreme  ermine,  had  made  an  exposition  of  constitutional  law. 
which  had  rolled  in  silvery  cadence  from  the  dark  forests  of  the  North 
to  the  glittering  waters  of  the  Gulf. 

He  distinctly  admitted  that  the  South  did  ask  of  the  Northern  De- 
mocracy an  advanced  step  in  vindication  of  Southern  rights ;  and  Mr. 
Yancey's  hour  and  a  half  closed  wliilo  he  was  in  the  midst  of  a  series  of 
lofty  periods,  and  Mr.  Pugh  of  Ohio  sprung  to  his  feet.  The  speech  of 
Mr  Yancey  had  been  the  speech  of  the  Convention.  Some  time  before 
it  was  concluded  the  day  had  expired,  and  the  gas  had  been  lit  about 
the  hall.  The  scene  was  very  brilliant  and  impressive.  The  crowded 
hall,  the  flashing  lights,  the  deep  solicitude  felt  in  every  word,  the  im- 
portance of  the  issues  pending,  all  combined  to  make  up  a  spectacle  of 
extraordinary  interest,  and  something  of  splendor. 

Mr.  Pugh  took  the  platform  in  a  condition  of  considerable  warmth. 
There  was  an  effort  made  to  adjourn,  but  the  crowd  was  eager  for  the 
fray,  and  insisted  that  Pugh  should  go  on.  He  did  so,  thanking  God 
that  a  bold  and  honest  man  from  the  South  had  at  last  spoken,  and  told 
the  whole  truth  of  the  demands  of  the  South,  It  was  now  before  the 
Convention  and  the  country,  that  the  South  did  demand  an  advanced 
step  from  the  Democratic  party.  Mr.  Pugh  read  the  resolutions  of  the 
Alabama  Convention  four  years  ago,  reported  by  Mr.  Yancey,  showing 
that  the  delegation  of  Alabama  demanded  of  the  Democracy  assembled 
at  Charleston,  more  than  they  required  of  the  Democracy  at  Cincinnati, 
four  years  ago.  His  point  was  weakened,  however,  by  the  fact  that  be 
did  not  read  all  of  the  Alabama  resolutions  until  forced  to  do  so  by  the 
peremptory  demands  of  Yancey  and  Judge  Meek.  Mr.  Pugh  said  that 
his  political  life  was  almost  over,  and  so  fiir  as  he  was  personally  con- 
cerned, he  did  not  regret  it.  He  then  traced  the  downfall  of  the  North- 
ern Democracy,  and  the  causes  of  that  fall,  charging  the  South  with  it. 
And  now  the  Northern  Democracy  were  taunted  by  the  South  with 
weakness.  And  here,  it  seemed,  the  Northern  Democracy,  because 
they  were  in  the  minority,  were  thrust  back  and  told  in  effect  they 
must  put  their  hands  on  their  mouths,  and  their  mouths  in  the  dust. 
"  Gentlemen  of  the  South,"  said  Mr.  Pugh,  "  you  mistake  ua — you 
4 


60 

mistnko  us — we  will  not  do  it."  Mr.  Pugh  was  interrupted  my  motions 
to  aflJMirn,  and  the  Convention  took  a  rc-ess  of  one  hour. 

At  haU-|iast  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  Cnnvintion  again  a.'-8em- 
bled,  and  Mr.  Pugh  took  the  platform,  in  the  face  of  a  magnificent 
audience,  and  spoke  with  intense  energy  and  animation,  in  his  best 
style. 

His  first  point  was  against  the  exercise  of  doubtful  conptitutional 
power.<« ;  and  he  insisted  that  the  Southern  demand  for  peculiar  protec- 
tion of  their  peculiar  property  in  the  Territories,  had  no  warrant  in  the 
Constitution. 

Mr.  Piigh's  eff)rt  ia  conceded  to  have  been  bold  and  adroit.  It  had 
not  the  silvery  music,  the  grace  and  poli.<h,  that  di.^tinguished  the  ora- 
tion of  3Ir.  Yancey,  but  it  was  keen,  shrewd  and  telling. 

A  Washington  reporter,  who  has  heard  all  Mr.  Pugh's  Senate  speeches, 
says  this  effort  was  far  superior  to  the  best  of  theni. 

He  spoke  of  the  sacrifice  of  the  Northern  Democrats  of  their  political 
lives,  battling  for  the  doctrine  of  the  South,  now  scornfully  repudiated  ; 
and  pointed  out  among  the  delegates,  men  who  had  been  Senators  and 
Representatives,  and  who  had  fallen  in  the  fight.  In  conclusion,  he 
stated  the  Democracy,  who  were  prepared  to  stand  by  the  old  faith, 
would  be  sorry  to  part  with  their  Southern  friends,  but  if  the  gentle- 
men from  the  South  could  only  stay  on  the  terms  proposed,  they  must 
go.  ,The  Democracy  of  the  Noith-west  would  make  itself  heard  and 
felt.  The  Northern  Democrats  were  not  children  under  the  pupilage  of 
the  South,  and  to  be  told  to  stand  here  and  there,  and  moved  at  the  beck 
and  bidding  of  the  South.  The  hall  was  still,  as  it  was  understood 
that  Pugh  was  the  spokesman  of  Douglas,  and  that  the  fate  of  the 
Democratic  party  was  in  issue. 

When  Mr.  Pugh  concluded,  Mr.  John  Cochrane  pressed  a  motion 
to  have  a  place  assigned  for  his  amendment  to  the  majority  report. 

After  some  discussion,  it  was  ruled  out  of  order. 

Mr.  Bishop  of  Connecticut  now  said  he  thought  nothing  new  could 
be  said  of  the  dissentions  of  the  Democratic  party,  if  the  Convention 
remained  in  session  and  debated  all  summer.  All  these  questions  had 
been  discussed  tin^e  and  again,  and  the  minds  of  gentlemen  made  up, 
he  therefore  denianded  the  previous  question. 

In  an  instant  the  house  was  in  an  uproar — a  hundred  delegates  upon 
the  floor,  and  upon  chairs,  screaming  like  panthers,  and  gesticulating 
like  monkeys.  The  Piesident,  for  the  first  time,  completely  lost  con- 
trol over  the  Convention ;  not  a  word  was  audible.  The  reporters 
climbed  upon  their  tables,  the  delegates  mounted  the  chairs,  the  people 
in  the  galleries  stretched  their  necks  and  hung  over  the  balustrade,  and 
literally,  as  was  said  of  a  scene  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  "you 
would  sec  the  Speaker's  hammer  g'jing,  hut  could  not  hear  it."  The 
chair  singled  out  a  red-haired  member  from  Missouri,  who  was  standing 
on  a  front  seat,  and  shaking  his  gr)ry  locks,  and  trying  to  shriek  louder 
and  louder,  and  to  look  more  terrible  than  any  body  el.-e,  and  recog- 
nized hiu)  as  moving  to  adjourn.  The  chair  probably  thought  it  the 
part  of  prudence  to  see  that  the   Couveuiion   adjourned,  for  voting  on 


-61 

the  platform  in  tbe  midst  of  such  a  tornado,  and  at  that  hour  (it  was 
after  ten  o'clock),  would  be  certain  to  blow  up  the  Convention. 

Still  the  Convention  roared  and  raged,  and  the  cbairinan,  seeing;  it 
was  not  worth  while  to  try  to  put  it  down  by  vehement  tfFurts,  h  oked 
quietly  at  it ;  and  after  he  had  recognized  the  Mississippiao,  remained 
quiescent. 

The  first  voice  that  rose  above  the  din  was  that  of  some  frightened 
delegate,  crying  aloud  "like  some  strong  swimmer  in  his  agony,"  emit- 
ting a  "bubbling  groan,"  that  the  application  of  the  gag  would  be  dis- 
astrous to  the  party.  The  poor  fellow  thought  the  party  was  about  to 
bust  and  the  thing  die — so  he  shrieked  for  the  salvation  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Presently  the  chairman  managed  to  take  the  reins  in  his 
hands,  and  with  great  equanimity,  firmness  and  calmness  of  manner, 
stated  that  there  was  no  occasion  for  so  much  agitation  and  di.«-compos- 
ure,  A  crowd  gathered  about  Bishop,  and  some  seemed  to  menace 
him.  The  delegates  gathered  in  groups  and  grappled  with  each  other, 
and  surged  about  like  waves  of  the  sea. . 

Tbe  chair  recognized  the  motion  of  adjournment,  and  a  vote  by  States 
was  called  for,  and  an  adjournment  carried  by  a  small  majority — yeas, 
158i  ;  nays,  143.     The  following  is  the  vote  : 

States.                                Yeas.  JS^oys.  States.                             Yeas.  Naya. 

Maine 8            0        Mississippi 7  0 

New  Hampshire 0  5         Texas 4  0 

Veimoiit 0  5         Aikausas 4  0 

Mas!^acbusetts 7             51       Missduii 3  6 

Rhode  Island 0            4         Tennessee 12  0 

Connecticut 1             5         Kentuckv 12  0 

New  York 0  3.5         Ohio  .  .  " 0  23 

New  Jersey 7             0        Indiana 0  13 

Pennsylvania 8  19         Illinois 5  6 

Delaware 3            0         Michigan 0  6 

Maryland 8            0        Wisconsin 0  5 

Virginia 15             0        Iowa 0  4 

North  Carolina 10            0        Minnesota IJ  2^ 

South  Carolina 8             0        CaliforDJa 4  0 

Geor?:ia 10            0        Oregon 3  0 

Florida 3  0  

Alabama 9             0  158i  143 

Louisiana 6  0 

The  Convention  separated  in  a  bad  humor.  There  was  a  call  on  the 
Southerners  to  remain  and  consult.  It  was  a  cold,  lainy  r)ight,  but 
there  was  intense  heat  about  the  hotels.  Men  stalked  about  witb  drip- 
ping umbrellas,  and  consulted  eagerly  and  anxiously.  Every  b(idy  said 
that  there  would  necessarily  be  an  explosion  in  the  morning.  During 
the  evening,  as  it  was  known  that  "tbe  crisis"  could  not  much  longer 
be  put  off,  dispatches  were  flying  b'.^twcen  Washington  and  Charleston, 
Tbe  Southern  members  of  Congress  were  telling  tbe  delegates  from 
their  States  that  they  must  go  out  with  Alabama.  Toombs  telegraphed 
to  the  Georgians  that  they  must  not  stay  after  Alabama  went  out. 
Gartell  did  tbe  same  thing.  Tbe  South  Carolinians  also  sent  di.-patehes, 
saying  that  the  Palmetto  delegates  must  not  be  outttiipptd  in  the  race 
of  zeal  for  Southera  rights  and  independence. 


52 


SIXTH   DAY. 

Charleston,  Saturday,  April  28th. 

The  first  thing  wus  a  pathetic  appeal  from  Bigler  of  Pennsylvania. 
Bigler  in  hia  wisdom,  con-sidereJ  the  occasion  critical.  lie  feared  the 
union  of  the  Democratic  party  could  not  be  maintained.  He  was  in 
favor  of  the  union  of  the  Democracy  for  the  sake  of  the  union  of  the 
States ;  of  course  the  union  of  the  States  would  go  up,  the  moment  the 
Democratic  party  went  down. 

He  moved  that  the  majority  and  minority  reports  be  recommitted  to 
the  Convention,  with  instructions  to  report  in  an  hour  the  following 
resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  the  platform  adopted  by  the  Democratic  party  at  Cincinnati  Ije 
affirmed,  with  the  foilowiug  expla;iutory  re.soliitiou.s  : ' 

Resolved,  That  the  goverument  of  a  Territory,  organized  by  an  actof  CongresB, 
is  provisional  and  temporary,  and,  during  its  existence,  all  citizens  of  the  United 
States  have  an  equal  right  to  settle  in  the  Territory,  without  their  rights  either 
of  person  or  property,  being  destroyed  or  impaired  by  Congressional  or  Territo- 
rial legii^latiou. 

Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  stands  pledged  to  the  doctrine  that  it  is 
the  duty  of  the  Government  to  maintain  all  the  constitutional  rights  of  property 
of  whatever  kind,  in  the  Territories,  and  to  enforce  all  the  decisions  of  the 
.Supreme  Court  in  reference  thereto. 

Re.iolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  United  Stales  to  afford  ample  and  com- 
plete protection  to  all  iUs  citizens,  whether  at  home  or  abroad,  and  whether 
native  or  foreign. 

RcHolved,  That  one  of  the  ncce&sities  of  the  age,  in  a  military,  commercial  and 
postal  point  of  view,  is  speedy  communication  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
States;  and  the  Democratic  party  pledge  such  constitutional  government  aid  as 
will  insure  the  construction  of  a  railroad  to  the  I'aciQc  coast  at  the  earliest 
practical  period. 

Reserved,  That  the  Democratic  party  are  in  favor  of  the  acquisition  of  the 
Island  of  Cuba,  on  such  terms  as  shall  be  honorable  to  ourselves  and  just  to 
Spain. 

Resolved,  That  the  enactments  of  State  Legislatures  to  defeat  the  faithful  exe- 
cution of  the  Fugitive  Slave  law,  are  hostile  in  character,  subversive  of  the  Con- 
stitution, and  revolutionary  in  their  effect. 

The  quegtioa  was  divided,  and  a  vote  was  taken  upon  the  first  branch 
of  the  motion  of  Mr.  Bigler  to  commit  the  resolutions  offered  by  the 
committee  on  Resolutions,  with  tho  amendments,  back  to  the  committee. 

Alabama  demanded  that  the  vote  be  by  States. 

The  question  was  taken,  and  it  was  decided  in  the  affirmative.  Yeas, 
152;  nays,  151,  as  follows: 

Slates.  Yeas.  Nays.  Slate-i.  Veas.  A'ays. 

Maine 3  5  Maryland 5i  2^ 

New  Hampshire 0  5  Virginia 14  1 

Vermont 0  5  North  Carolina 10  0 

iMas.sachu8etts 8  5  South  Carolina 8  0 

Rhode  Island 0  4  (ieorgia 10  0 

Connecticut 1  i  4. J  Florida 3  0 

New  York 0  ;jr)  Alabama 9  0 

New  .Jersey 4  3  Louisiana 6  0 

Pennsylyaaia 16  11  Mississippi 7  0 

Delaware 3  0  Texas 4  0 


63 

States.                                Teas.  Nays.  States.                            Yeas.  Nays 

Arkansas 4  0         W;i?conpia 0              5 

Missouri 5  4        Iowa   0              4 

Tennessee 11  1         Miaiiei-ota 1              3 

Kentucky 12  0         California 4              0 

Ohio 0  23         Oregon 3              0 

Indiana 0  13 

Illinois 0  11  152  151 

Michigan 0  6 

So  the  proposed  platforms  were  recommitted. 

The  effect  of  the  vote  to  recommit  was  to  dampen  the  ardor  of  the 
Douglas  men  very  much. 

Mr.  Bigler's  motion  instructing  the  committee,  was  laid  on  the  table 
by  a  vote  of  242  to  bQ\,  when  the  State  of  Georgia  was  called.  As 
this  vote  was  being  taken  a  minority  of  her  delegation,  Douglasites, 
made  a  struggle  to  assert  their  right  to  vote  as  they  individually  pleased. 
The  Georgia  delegation  had  been  requested  to  vote  as  a  unit.  The  rule 
adopted  by  the  Convention  provided  that  the  individual  delegates  should 
cast  their  votes  as  they  pleased,  when  it  was  not  provided  or  directed  by 
the  State  how  they  should  cast  their  votes. 

The  President  reviewed  the  facts  of  the  case  as  brought  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  Convention,  and  held  that  the  words  of  the  rule,  which, 
allowed  any  delegate  to  cast  his  individual  vote,  except  where  the  State 
he  represented  had  provided  or  directed  how  the  vote  of  the  delegation 
should  be  cast,  covered,  in  his  judgment,  the  resolution  that  it  had  been 
agreed  upon  by  both  parties,  had  been  adopted  by  the  Georgia  State 
Convention.  The  word  ''provided,"  in  the  rule  was  evidently  meant 
to  cover  something  more  than  "directions,"  as  both  words  had  been 
used.  The  request  of  a  State  should  certainly  be  liberally  construed, 
and  he  thought  it  was  a  provision  as  to  how  the  vote  of  the  State 
should  be  cast.  He,  therefore,  resolved  to  receive  the  vote  of  the  State 
of  Georgia,  through  the  chairman  of  the  delegation,  as  a  unit. 

Senator  Salisbury  was  exceedingly  anxious  to  talk  of  the  perilous 
condition  of  the  Democratic  party. 

A  Delegate  from  Florida  rose  to  the  question  of  privilege.  He  was 
anxious  to  get  along  harmoniously  and  with  order.  As  there  were  a 
certain  number  of  gentlemen  who  seemed  bound  to  make  the  Conven- 
tion look  at  their  faces,  by  hopping  up  every  minute  to  some  question 
or  other,  he  would  suggest  that  their  daguerreotypes  be  taken  and  handed 
round,  then  there  would  be  no  ofccasion  for  them  to  thus  annoy  and  trou- 
ble the  Convention. 

The  Convention  adjourned  until  four  o'clock,  to  give  the  committee 
time  to  report. 

AFTERNOON    8E8SI0N. 

On  reassembling  there  was  the  same  old  trouble.  Three  reports 
very  slightly  modified  from  those  originally  reported. 

Mr.  Avery  of  North  Carolina.  Mr.  President,  I  beg  leave,  on  be- 
half of  the  committee  on  Resolutions,  to  make  a  report,  and  I  will  take 
occasion  to  avail  myself  of  the  opportunity,  before  reading  it,  to  make 
a  single  remark. 


54 

These  resolutions  meet  the  approhation  of  a  mnjority  of  the  States 
represented  upon  that  committee.  I  will  state  further,  that  the  coin- 
mitfi-e  unHersfood  that  this  report  emho<lies  in  suhstatice  the  liayard 
resolutions,  and  in  puhstance  the  resolutions  of  the  gentleman  from 
Pennsylvania  (Mr.  Bigler),  and  in  t;ul)st:mce  the  resolutions  « iff.  red 
by  the  gentleman  from  New  Yoik  (Mr.  Cochrane),  being  moditied  in 
such  shape  as  the  committee  think  will  meet  the  approbation  of  the 
Covention.     [Applause.] 

Resolved,  That  thi-  platform  adopted  by  the  Democratic  party  at  Cincinnati  be 
affirmed,  with  the  following  explaiuitory  rtsolutioiis : 

Fird,  That  tin.'  poveriim-'nt  of  a  Tirritory  or^^aiiized  by  an  act  of  Congrew*,  is 
provisioual  and  temporary  ;  and,  duriug  its  cxiste-ncr.  all  citizi  ns  of  Ihi-  L'liiti-d 
SlatcH  have  an  equal  right  to  settle  with  their  properly  in  the  Territory  without 
their  rights,  either  of  p  rson  or  property,  being  destroyed  or  impaired  by  Con- 
gressional or  Territorial  legislation. 

Second,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Fi-deral  Government,  in  all  its  departments, 
to  protect,  when  necessary,  the  rights  of  p 'r.-oiifi  and  property  in  the  Territo- 
ries, and  wherever  else  its  coustitutioiial  authority  extends. 

Third.  That  when  the  settlers  in  a  Territory  having  an  adequate  population  to 
form  a  State  Coustimlioa,  the  right  of  sovereignty  commences,  and,  biing  con- 
summated by  admission  into  the  Union,  they  stand  ou  an  equal  footing  with  the 
people  of  other  States;  and  the  State  thus  organizi  d  ought  to  be  admitted  into 
the  Federal  Union,  whether  ita  cousiitution  prohibits  or  recognizes  the  institu- 
tion of  slavery. 

Fourth,  Tliat  the  Domocratlc  party  are  in  favor  of  the  acquisition  of  the  Is- 
land of  Cuba,  on  such  tL-rms  as  shall  be  honorable  to  ourselves  and  just  to 
Spain,  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment. 

Fifth,  That  the  enactments  of  State  Legislatures  to  defeat  the  faithful  exocu- 
cutiou  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  law,  are  hostile  in  character,  subversive  of  the 
Cousiitution,  and  revolutionary  in  th.-ir  etfect. 

Sixth,  That  the  Democracy  of  the  United  Slates  recognize  it  as  the  impera- 
tive duty  of  this  Governmeut  to  protect  the  naturalized  citizen  iu  all  his  righta, 
whether  at  home  or  in  foreign  laudi,  to  the  same  extent  .as  its  native-born  citi- 
Eens. 

Whereas,  one  of  the  greatest  necessities  of  the  age,  in  a  political,  commei^ 
cial.  |)ostal  aud  military  puiul  of  view,  is  a  speedy  commuuication  betweeu  the 
Pacitic  and  Atlantic  coasts:     Therefore,  be  it 

Resolved.  That  the  Deinocrafic  party  do  hereby  pledge  themselves  to  use  every 
means  in  their  power  to  secure  the  ]iai«sage  of  some  bill,  to  the  extent  of  the 
constitutional  authority  of  Congress,  for  the  construction  of  a  Pacific  Kailroad. 
from  the  Mis-sissippi  liiver  to  the  Pacific  Oceau.  at  the  earliest  practicable  mo- 
ment. 

Mr.  Avery  remarked  : 

It  is  proper,  Mr.  President,  that  I  should  state  that  the  Bayard  res- 
olutions have  been  amended,  fir.«t  by  inserting  in  the  first  residution, 
after  the  word  "settle,"  the  words  "with  their  property;"  by  »n.>>ert- 
ing  in  the  second  resolution,  after  the  words  "  Federal  Government," 
the  words  "in  all  its  departments;"  after  the  word  "protect,"  the 
vords  "when  necessary;"  by  striking  out  in  the  same  resolution  the 
words  "  on  the  high-seas,"  as  they  seem  to  have  led  to  some  misapprc- 
Kension  in  regard  to  the  views  entertained  by  the  committee  in  a.««sertmg 
that  amendment.  In  the  resolution  relating  to  a  postal  ami  military 
road  to  California,  the  words  "  to  the  extent  of  a  constitutional  author- 
ity of  Congress"  are  inserted  after  the  word   "  bill." 

I  would  lurthcr  state  that  the  secuud  resoluliua   is  amended  in  this 


65 

particular  :  As  originally  drafted,  it  read,  "the  rights  of  persons  and 
property  on  the  high-seas,  in  the  Territories,  or  wherever  else  its  con- 
stitutional authority  extends."  The  committee  have  stricken  out  the 
words  "  high-seas,"  and  after  the  word  "  Territory,"  they  have  strick- 
en out  the  word   "or,"  so  that  the  resolution  now  reads: 

"That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government,  in  all  its  depart- 
ments, to. protect,  when  neccs.*ary,  the  rights  of  persons  and  property 
in  the  Territories,  and  wherever  else  its  constitutional  authority  ex- 
tends." 

Mr.  Butler  of  Massachusetts.  I  desire  to  say  that  I  have  a  report 
to  offer  from  the  minority  of  the  committee,  which  I  am  instructed  to 
present,  and  to  move  its  subtlli^sinn  as  an  amendment,  for  the  report  of 
the  gentleman  from  Iowa  (Mr.  Samuels),  who  represents  the  lurger 
minority  of  the  committee. 

I  have  also  the  happiness  to  state  that  I  have  an  addition  to  my  thir- 
ty-two companions  of  yesterday.  At  such  time  as  it  will  suit  the  pleas- 
ure of  the  Convention  I  will  ofF>;r  my  amendment,  which  is  the  Cincin- 
nati Platform,  pure  and  undefiled.      [Applause.] 

Mr.  Samuels  of  Iowa.  I  am  in.structed  by  the  minority  committee 
on  resolutions  to  ofTer  the  following  report.  It  is  identical  with  the  re- 
port that  was  presented  by  the  minority  committee  yesterday,  with  the 
exception  that  the  second  resolution  of  the  minority  report  of  yesterday 
has  been  stricken  out,  and  the  following  has  been  substituted.  I  will 
read  the  resolution  which  has  been  substituted.  [Voices — "Read 
them  all."] 

I  will  read  them  all,  then.     The  resolutions  are  as  follows : 

1.  Resolved,  That  we,  the  Democracy  of  the  Union,  in  Convention  assembled, 
hereby  declare  our  atfirmance  of  the  rusolutions  unanimously  adopt(  d  and  de- 
clari'd  as  a  piatlorni  of  principles  by  ibu  Democratic  Convention  at  Cincinnati 
in  the  year  1856,  believing  that  Drmocratic  principles  are  unchangeable  in  their 
nature  when  applied  to  the  same  .subJLCt-matttrs ;  and  we  recommend,  as  the 
only  further  resolutions,  the  following  : 

Ina.-<much  as  differences  of  opinion  exist  in  the  Democratic  party  as  (o  the 
nature  and  extent  of  the  powers  of  a  Territorial  Legislature,  and  as  to  the  pow- 
ers and  duties  of  Congress,  und /r  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  over 
the  institution  of  slavery  within  the  Terriiories  ; 

2.  Resoloed,  That  the  DtMuocratic  party  will  abide  by  the  decisions  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  the  United  States  on  the  questions  of  constitutional  law. 

3.  Rejoiced,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  United  States  to  afford  am|il''  and  com- 
plete protection  to  all  its  citizens,  whether  at  home  or  abroad,  and  whether  na- 
tive or  foreign. 

4.  Rtwlved,  That  one  of  the  necessities  of  the  age,  in  a  military,  commercial 
and  postal  point  of  view,  is  speedy  communicalion  bitvveea  thi;  Atlantic  and 
Pacific  States  ;  and  the  Democratic  party  pledge  such  constitutional  Govern- 
ment aid  as  will  insure  the  construction  of  a  Railroad  to  the  Pacific  coast,  at 
the  earliest  practicable  period. 

5.  Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  are  in  favor  of  the  acquisition  of  the 
Island  of  Cuba,  ou  such  terme  as  shall  be  honorable  to  ourselves  and  jut-t  to 
Spain. 

U.  Reeved,  That  the  enactments  of  State  Legislatnres  to  defeat  the  faithful 
execution  of  the  Fngitive  Slave  law,  are  hostile  in  character,  subversive  of  the 
Constitution,  and  revolutionary  iu  their  effect. 

Mr.  Avery  made  a  speech  in  which  he  told  the  Northern  delegates  a 


56 

great  deal  about  the  concessions  of  the  South — and  urged  tluiii  to  recol- 
lect that  the  slaves  who  now  grow  cotton  in  Alahama,  MissiHsijipi  and 
Georgia  are  the  children  of  slaves  who  were  formerly  h^lave.s  in  their 
own  States. 

Mr.  Samuels  filled  up  an  hour  with  a  pompous  stump  speech  advo- 
cating the  minority  report. 

Mr.  Butler  of  Ma.«sachusctts  rehearsed  his  speech  of  the  "previou.? 
day  in  favor  of  that  singulaly  luminous  proposition,  the  Cincinnati 
Platform,  pure  and  simple.  As  to  the  two  interpretations  on  the  Cin- 
cinnati Platform,  he  stated  that  there  were  already  two  interfiretations 
upon  each  of  the  reports  before  the  Convention.  There  would  always 
be  two  interpretations. 

Gov.  Stephens  of  Oregon  made  a  speech  in  favor  of  the  majority 
report. 

Mr.  Brent  of  ]\Iaryland  made  a  speech  for  the  minority  report.  The 
debate  was  dreadfully  dull  and  intolerably  long — one  dull  fellow  after 
another  takes  the  floor  and  bores  the  immense  and  impatient  audience 
for  an  hour.  It  becomes  apparent  that  there  is  a  determination  not  to 
allow  a  vote  on  the  resolutions. 

Now,  the  majority  report  is  at  least  tolerably  honest.  You  can  tell 
what  it  means.  There  can  be  no  dispute,  however,  but  the  minority 
report  is  a  miserable  and  cowardly  evasion.  The  favorite  phrase  of  our 
North-western  gentry — one  that  they  have  abided  by  through  all  their 
troubles — is  that  "  Democratic  principles  arc  unchangeable  in  tlieir  na- 
ture, when  applied  to  the  same  subject-matters."  They  then  proceed  to 
indorse  the  Cincinnati  Platform,  knowing  it  to  be  an  exposed  cheat — 
that  the  Administration  elected  upon  it,  has  not  construed  it  as  it  was 
interpreted  before  the  people.  They  want  to  "  cheat  and  to  be  cheated." 
The  next  thing  is  an  indorsement  for  time  and  eternity  of  the  Supreme 
Court.  Both  platform  reports  were  in  favor  of  the  exercise  of  con.sti- 
tutional  power  (which  means  none  at  all)  for  the  construction  of  the 
Pacific  Railroad.  Both  were  in  favor  of  Cuba  on  terms  "  honorable  to 
ourselves  and  just  to  Spain  "  (which  means,  that  Cuba  is  to  be  grabbed 
whenever  an  opportunity  affords).  Both  were  opposed  to  unfiiindly 
legislation  in  the  Northern  States,  and  both  in  favor  of  doing  wonderful 
things  for  the  foreign-born  citizen  at  home  and  abroad. 

After  the  debate  had  gone  on  .several  hours,  being  more  wretched  in 
auKstance  and  unentertaining  in  manner  than  an  ordinary  wrangle  in 
the  House  of  Ileprc^^entutives,  the  previous  question  was  demanded. 
This  was  done  by  a  trick.  Mr.  Claiborne,  delegate  from  Missouri, 
wanted  to  cxj)lain  the  position  of  that  State.  Cu.shing  had  the  floor 
farmed  out,  and  expected  to  make  a  speech  himself.  He  sent  a  messen- 
ger, to  inquire  whether  the  Missourian  propo.<ed  to  move  the  previous 
question.  The  nics.<!enger  saw  the  wrong  man,  and  was  deceived,  and 
in  turn  deceived  Cushing,  who  thus  lost  the  opportunity  for  which  he 
was  aching,  to  speak  on  the  platform. 

And  now  ensued  a  parliamentary  struggle,  exceedingly  exciting  and 
interesting.  The  Doughis  men  were  intensely  anxious  to  finish  up  the 
week's  work  in  good  style  by  adopting  their  platform.  The  opponents 
of  Douglas  were  resolved  that  the  vote  should  not  be  taken  on  the  plat- 


67 

form.  The  Douglasites  were  resolute,  in  the  majority,  and  good  tacti- 
cians. But  the  South  fell  back  upon  its  old  tactics  in  Congress — that 
of  filibustering  to  save  time.  They  heaped  up  motions  to  adjourn, 
and  motions  to  lay  the  whole  matter  upon  the  table,  and  rose  to  privi- 
leged motions  and  personal  explanations.  The  Chair  ruled  steadily, 
but  carefully,  in  favor  of  the  filibusters.  He  was  in  a  tight  place, 
too,  and  felt  it.  He  became  nervous  and  fidgety,  and  threatened  to 
leave  the  chair  and  abandon  the  Convention  ;  and  the  Convention  posi- 
tively seemed  alarmed  and  disheartened  at  the  idea  of  Caleb  leaving  it 
to  devour  itself.  Caleb  said,  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  maintain  a 
contest  of  physical  endurance  with  six  hundred  gentlemen.  He  said  : 
"  The  Chair  will  entertain  no  motion,  until  the  Convention  is  restored 
to  order,  and  when  that  is  done,  the  Chair  desires  to  make  another  sug- 
gestion to  the  Convention.  The  Chair  has  already  stated,  that  it  is 
physically  impossible  for  him  to  go  on  with  the  business  of  the  Con- 
vention, so  long  as  one-half  of  the  members  are  upon  their  feet  and 
engaged  in  clamor  of  one  sort  or  another.  The  Chair  begs  leave  to 
repeat  that  he  knows  but  one  remedy  for  snch  disorder,  and  that  is,  for 
your  presiding  officer  to  leave  the  chair.  He,  of  course,  would  deeply 
regret  that  painful  necessity,  but  it  would  be  a  less  evil  than  that  this 
incessant  confusion  and  disorder,  presenting  such  a  spectacle  to  the 
people  of  South  Carolina,  should  continue  to  prevail  in  this  most  hon- 
orable body  of  so  many  respectable  gentlemen  of  the  highest  standing 
in  the  community,  engaged  in  debate  and  deliberation  upon  the  dearest 
interests  of  the  country."     [Applause.] 

There  was  a  Mississippian,  Jackson,  who  was  particularly  prominent 
in  putting  motions.  He  had  a  good  voice,  and  was  standing  in  his 
chair  and  roaring  all  the  time.  Now,  Caleb  saw  in  him  an  opportunity 
of  making  a  scape-goat.  He  (Caleb)  had  been  holding  the  helm  hard 
down  against  the  Douglas  parliamentarians,  and  now,  taking  a  virtuous 
spasm,  be  told  Jackson  in  a  tone  most  unphilosophically  indignant,  that 
he  could  not  tolerate  him  on  his  feet  incessantly  putting  an  endless 
series  of  motions. 

Mr.  ^Walker  of  Alabama  wanted  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  Con- 
vention to  hear  the  Hon.  Caleb  Cushing  on  the  resolutions,  but  was 
hooted  down. 

A  gentleman  from  Tennessee,  who  had  made  many  efforts  to  get  the 
floor,  finally  obtained  a  hearing,  when  the  motion  he  wished  to  put  was 
not  in  order,  and  took  advantage  of  his  opportunity  to  introduce  him- 
self formally  to  "the  distinguished  President  of  this  Convention." 
Cushing  was  puzzled  for  a  moment,  and  was  then  guilty  of  an  awkward 
bow,  and  a  very  thin  artificial  smile. 

During  the  parliamentary  squabble  two  votes  by  States  were  taken 
on  motions  to  adjourn.     The  first  was  as  follows  : 

States.  Yeas.  Nays.         States.  Yeas  iVaya. 

Maine 0  8  Connecticut 0  6 

New  Hampshire 0  5  New  York 0  3.5 

Vermont 0  5  New  Jersey 7  0 

Maps-achii setts 5  7i  Pennsylvania 1.3  11 

Rhode  Iflaad 0  4"  Delaware 3  0 


as 

Sla/ex.                                  Yms.  Noys.  Slalen.                               Yeas.  Nat/t, 

Marylnnrl  51  2>       Kentucky 7),  U 

Vir^iuia 14'  l'       Oliiit  o'  23' 

North  Carolina 10  0         Iii<iiana 0  13 

South  Curoliua 0  8         IlliiioiB 0  11 

Gi'orpia 10  0         Michij^an 0  6 

Florida 3  0         Wisconsin 0  5 

Alabama 9  0         Iowa t»  4 

Louisiiana 6  0         Minnisota 0  4 

Mississippi   7  0         Calilornia 4  0 

Texas  4  0        Oregon 3  0 

Arkansas     4  0                                                

MisHonri  0  9  139  1C» 

Tennessee 12  0 

It  is  believed  that  the  column  of  nays  in  this  vote  represents  the  ut- 
most strength  of  Mr.  Douglas  ;  and  there  are  some  votes  in  it  that  he 
cannot  get.  It  is  now  thought  that  the  South  i^  in  such  a  condition, 
that  it  would  be  absolute  suicide  for  the  South  Carolina  delegates  to 
vote  for  him,  however  great  the  emergency.  There  are  al'^o  in  this 
vote  two  votes  from  Pennsylvania  that  he  cannot  get  for  the  nomination. 
And  there  will  be  one  vote  from  Minnesota  against  him  for  the  nomina- 
tion. There  are  also  five  of  the  nine  Missouri  votes  forever  against 
bim.  It  will  ho  perceived,  too,  that  the  Douglas  men  screwed  out  of 
the  Southern  States  their  last  hnlf  votes — one  vote  and  a  half  from 
Kentucky,  and  one  vote  from  Virginia.  There  are,  however,  one  or 
two  votes  from  Tennessee,  that  we  find  in  the  column  of  yeas  above, 
that  are  for  Douglas.  On  the  whole,  a  close  analysis  of  this  vote  ^hows 
that  Douglas  will  get  a  majority  vote,  but  cannot  get  a  two-thirds  vote, 
unless  the  expected  Southern  secession  should  draw  off  thirty  or  forty 
votes.  Then  the  Douglas  men  would  use  their  numerical  tuperioiitj 
to  construe  the  rules  so,  as  to  allow  two-thirds  of  the  votes  present  to 
nominate. 

The  fight  on  adjournment  was  at  last  a  drawn  battle.  The  main 
question  wa.s  ordered,  and  the  Convention  adjourned  at  11  o'clock  P.  M. 

It  will  be  necessary  on  Monday  morning  to  proceed  to  vote  on  the 
platform. 

Charleston,  April  29th. 

This,  the  "day  of  rest,"  is  the  most  busy  day  of  the  session  among 
the  politicians.  The  vote  on  the  platform  must  come  off  in  the  morn- 
ing. The  question  on  the  platform  of  ])rineiples  to-day,  is  which  side 
has  the  most  money  and  can  make  the  biggest  promises  to  obtain  the 
floating  vote.  The  uncertain  men  here,  as  in  the  late  contest  for  the 
Speakership  of  the  House,  have  the  decision  of  the  question.  If  the 
majority  platform  .«hould  be  adijptcd,  Douglas  is  dead  without  further 
ceremony.  The  Douglas  stock  is  falling.  Several  of  his  delegations 
are  shaky  ;  men  can  be  picked  from  all  the  delegations  for  him  that  are 
at  heart  against  him,  and  that  will  be  happy  to  lead  a  stampede.  Tliose 
gentlemen  are  very  bu.sy  to-day,  and  were  in  a  flutter  yesterday.  There 
is  a  feeling  of  distrust  in  the  delegations  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  even 
Illinois.  Tho.se  who  are  for  Douglas  through  thick  and  thin,  now  and 
forever,  are  bccbming  disgusted  and  alarmed  at  the  coldness  of  some  of 
their  colleagues.     They  are  also  in  trepidation  about  the  South.     Every 


59 

imaginable  effort  will  be  made  to-day  by  the  deadly  enemies  of  Douglas 
to  keep  the  South  in  the  Convention.  If  Alabama  and  company  will 
stay  in,  after  the  minority  platform  is  adopted,  Douglas  cannot  receive  the 
nomination.  There  are,  at  least,  one  hundred  and  thirty  votes  immov- 
ably against  him.  He  can  get  more  than  that  number,  but  there  are  not 
that  many  anxious  about  him.  The  New  York  vote  will  be  cast  as  an 
unit  for  him,  and  yet  there  are  more  than  one-third  of  the  delegation 
hotly  opposed  to  him.  The  Douglas  men  have  become  so  solicitous  on 
the  subject  of  the  going  out  of  the  ultra-South,  that  the  ultras  are  rather 
disposed  to  stay  inside  and  disappoint  them.  Yesterday,  for  instance, 
an  Ohioan  asked  a  Louisianian  in  a  very  solemn  way,  how  many  of 
them  would  be  likely  to  go.  "  Oh,  never  mind,"  said  Louisiana,  "  we 
won't  go  out  until  we  are  ready.  You  are  too  damn  keen  for  us  to  go." 
I  am  inclined  to  believe,  from  the  information  that  comes  to  me  from 
various  sources,  that  ten  times  the  number  of  ofBces  in  existence  under 
the  Government,  have  been  promised  by  Douglas  &  Co.,  in  ease  he 
should  become  President.  I  am  told  of  one  delegate  from  a  Southern 
State  who  has  been  three  times  approached,  and  asked  wliether  he  would 
not  like  a  foreign  mission,  and  could  not  be  reconciled  to  Douglas. 
Foreign  missions,  collectorships,  indeed,  all  offices  within  the  gift  of  the 
President,  are  the  currency  here. 

I  do  not  know  but  I  will  have  to  take  back  a  statement  made  in  this 
corre.^pondence,  that  the  preponderance  of  brains  in  the  Convention  was, 
or  would  be,  w^th  the  South.  If  th^  South  has  the  greatest  weight  and 
brilliancy  of  brains  in  the  Convention,  the  fact  has  not  appeared  very 
definitely,  up  to  this  time. 

The  tactics  of  the  Douglas  men  have  been  much  better  than  those  of 
their  opponents.  No  Southern  speech  upon  the  floor  has  been  remark- 
able for  power,  except  that  of  the  Hon.  Wm.  L.  Yancey  ;  and  there 
have  been  a  considerable  number  of  displays  of  the  worst  sort  of  South- 
ern blatherskiteism,  and  some  notable  instances  of  Southern  ill-manners. 
The  Douglas  men  came  here  with  a  regular  programm.e,  with  a  power- 
ful mass  of  instructed  delegates,  and  an  enthusiastic  corps  of  out.xiders. 
The  South,  and  the  Administration  forces,  came  without  a  candidate,  a 
programme,  or  even  a  conceit  of  a  policy.  They  have  rested  secure  in 
the  idea  of  their  strength.  The  force  of  the  zeal  and  impudence  of  the 
Douglas  men  amazes  and  confounds,  while  it  exasperates,  them.  And 
now  they  find  themselves  face  to  face,  with  a  pressing  danger  that 
Douglas  will  overwhelm  them.  They  did  not  know  the  tremendous  ef- 
forts the  Little  Giant  was  capable  of  putting  forth.  It  is  very  evident 
here  to-night,  that  with  the  Federal  Government,  and  the  dominant  men 
of  the  section  of  the  greatest  strength  of  the  Democratic  party  against 
him,  he  is,  in  generalship,  more  than  a  match  for  them  all.  He  in- 
spired his  followers,  who  gathered  around  him  in  Washington,  as  they 
passed  on  their  way  to  this  place,  with  the  wildest  enthusiasm,  and  the 
most  resolute  determination  to  nominate  him  at  all  hazards,  together 
with  confiflence  in  their  ability  to  do  so.  And  now,  in  spite  of  the 
South's  prestige,  in  spite  of  the  Administration's  bate,  nothing  stands 
between  him  and  a  triumphant  nomination  but  the  two-thirds  rule; 
and  it  is  not  certain  that  even  that  will  avail.  It  would  be  unwise  to 
\ 


60 

under-estimate  the  man  who  is  competent  to  such  a  performance  as  this. 
From  the  beginning  of  the  struggle  here,  his  enemies  have  been  swim- 
mine;  against  the  tide.  Slidell  and  all  the  rest,  have  been,  as  it  were, 
but  taking  up  arms  against  a  sea  of  troubles,  and  they  have  not  made 
much  progress  toward  ending  them.  The  South  has  not  yet  produced 
upon  the  floor  in  the  rough-and-tumble  fights  of  the  Convention,  a 
champion  who  could  cope  with  the  rude  giant  Richardson,  while  it  re- 
quired very  acute  ruling,  by  that  most  clear-headed  sophist  Caleb  Cush- 
ing,  at  one  time,  to  prevent  Stuart  of  Michigan  (the  Democratic  Sen- 
ator who  stood  with  Douglas  and  Broderick  against  Lecompton)  from 
ending  the  platform  fight  disastrously  for  the  Administration,  by  a  par- 
liamentary coup  d'etat.  I  am  not  unwilling  to  admire,  as  all  the  world 
does,  a  bold  game  played  with  enormous  force  and  splendid  impudence 
for  an  imperial  stake,  like  as  this  Douglas  game  for  the  Presidency. 
That  there  is  infinite  rottenness  and  corruption  under  it,  there  is  abun- 
dant evidence.  This  is  not  confined  to  the  Douglas  side,  however.  It 
is  a  part  of  the  caucus  system.     The  revenues  of  King  Caucus  are  bribes. 

The  crowd  here  has  thinned  out  rapidly  within  the  last  three  days. 
Every  train  goes  away  full — and  two  steamers,  one  for  New  York  and 
another  for  Philadelphia,  left  to-day,  bearing  off  at  least  two  hundred 
outsiders.  The  halls  of  the  hotels  are  not  obstructed,  nor  the  bar- 
rooms crowded  as  they  were  two  weeks  since.  Scores  of  faces  that  be- 
canifTfamiliar  in  the  early  days  of  the  Convention,  have  departed.  The 
outside  pressure  from  both  sections  melts  away  day  by  day.  The 
stages  rattle  away  from  the  hotels,  loaded  down  with  trunks,  and  filled 
with  passengers.  The  purses  of  the  bar-room  orators  and  ward  politi- 
cians of  the  North  were  becoming  collapsed,  and  as  this  is  just  now  a 
bad  place  to  borrow  money,  they  took  flight  while  they  had  enough 
to  see  them  safe  home.  And  the  Southern  men  are  talking  con- 
stantly about  their  "  cotton."  They  are  nearly  as  much  interested  with 
cotton  talk,  as  with  the  logic  to  which  they  are  greatly  devoted,  concern- 
ing the  "  protection  of  slave  property  in  the  Territories."  They  are 
also  solicitous  as  to  how  their  "boys"  and  "girls"  are  getting 
along — and  Suuthern  mails  will  not  bring  them  letters  at  satisfactory 
speed. 

A  great  calamity  has  come  upon  the  Ohio  delegation.  Their  private 
whiskey,  of  which  they  laid  in  a  supply  supposed  to  be  equal  to  all 
emergencies,  the  nomination  of  Douglas  included,  gave  out  this  morn- 
ing. They  attribute  their  good  health  which  they  have  enjoyed  to  this 
article.  The  Kentucky  whiskey,  too,  is  nearly  all  gone.  The  barrel 
in  which  it  is  contained,  and  which  occupies  an  honorable  position,  and 
receives  much  attention,  in  their  parlor,  gives  forth,  when  consulted  as 
to  its  condition,  a  dismal  tone  of  emptiness. 

The  weather  has  been  wonderfully  changeable  during  my  residence 
in  this  cily.  It  was  sultry  and  prostrating  fur  a  time.  The  sun  shone 
with  such  power  that  there  seemed,  when  walking  on  the  sunny  sides  of 
the  streets,  to  be  danger  of  sunstroke.  We  had  some  days  like  tho.se 
scorching  ones  of  June  in  Southern  Ohio.  But  for  three  days  pa.st 
there  has  been  a  cold  rain  and  blustering  wind,  and  good  fires  have 
been  good  things  during  the  fiirst  part  of  this  day.     The  rain  fell  fast, 


61 

and  the  wind  carried  a  chill  to  the  bones.  About  noon,  all  the  clouds 
were  blown  over  into  the  Atlantic.  The  sky  was  stripped  in  an  hour 
of  the  whole  mass  of  bleak  and  drifting  clouds,  and  the  sun  shone  with 
reviving  warmth,  while  the  wind  was  not  chilly,  but  merely  cool  enough 
to  be  refreshing.  The  planters  were  at  the  breakfast  table  this  morn- 
ing gossiping  about  the  frost.  This  evening  they  are  comforting  them- 
selves with  visions  of  growing  cotton — and  wondering  how  will  the 
"  boys  "  have  it  set  by  this  time. 

One  of  our  Northern  delegates,  a  jrentleraan  who.se  name  or  State  I 
shall  not  mention,  strolling  down  a  side  street  the  other  day,  saw  a  sign, 
"Slaves  for  sale."  He  walked  in,  and  was  asked,  in  effect,  whether  be 
meant  business.  He  promptly  replied  that  he  wanted  to  buy  a  nice 
woman,  and  they  told  him  they  could  sell  him  a  very  fine  seamstress. 
He  concluded  to  look  at  her,  and  she  turned  out  to  be  a  clever  mulatto 
girl,  well  dressed,  and,  like  a  great  many  of  her  race,  sporting  consider- 
able jewelry,  ear-drops,  finger-rings,  etc.  Her  qualities  as  a  seamstress 
were  dwelt  upon,  and  our  friend  was  told  that  as  it  was  him,  he  might 
have  her  cheap — price  only  S1500.  He  concluded  to  think  of  it,  and 
look  further  before  purchasing. 


SEVENTH    DAY. 

Charuestox.  S.  C,  Monday,  April  30th. 

The  Convention  came  together  this  morning  with  a  curious  mingling 
of  despair  of  accomplishing  any  thing,  and  hope  that  something  will 
turn  up,  hope  as  illogical  as  those  everlasting  anticipations  of  Mr. 
Micawber. 

I  am  not  stating  the  case  over-strongly,  when  I  say  there  is  a  general 
consciousness  that  the  Convention  is  making  so  bad  a  record,  that  its 
deliberations  are  becoming  of  little  importance,  so  impossible  will  it  be  to 
defend  any  conclusion  likely  to  be  reached,  before  the  country.  The 
Democratic  party  has  here  furnished  to  its  enemies  the  ammunition  that 
will  enable  them  to  annihilate  the  preposterous  pretensions  which  it  has 
for  some  years  put  forth.  The  scenes  around  me  are  those  of  the  dis- 
solution of  the  Democratic  organization. 

LThe  North-western  delegates  are  disheartened.  They  see  that  it  will 
hardly  be  worth  while  to  nominate  Douglas,  as  it  will  be  impossible  for 
him  to  drag  through  the  coming  campaign  so  cumbrous  a  mass  of  an- 
tagonisms as  have  been  presented  here. 

I  have  several  times  this  morning  heard  the  remark,  "The  President 
will  be  nominated  at  Chicago."  It  is  my  own  opinion,  however,  that 
there  will  be  as  irreconcilable  adverse  interests  and  sentiments  devel- 
oped in  the  Republican  party  at  Chicago  as  have  obtruded  themselves 
here. 

The  hall  is  more  densely  crowded  this  morning  than  ever  before.  A 
great  many  strangers  have  gone  home — and  there  are  but  feeble  swarms 
buzzing  about  the  hotels,  compared  wish  those  who  wore  crushing  each 
other  and  roaring  a  week  ago.     But  the  South  Carolinians  have  become 


62 

interesiid,  arnl  the  doors  being  ofi«^nefl  to  thorn  this  morning,  tliey  have 
rugbcd  in  and  filled  vacancies.  Tiie  Convention,  hO  far  as  outsirlers  are 
concerned,  "  wears  a  Southern  aspect."  The  delegates  are  all  here, 
or  vacancies  supplied;  but  the  niunufacturers  of  public  opinion,  satis- 
fied with  their  exertions,  are  making  their  way  Nurthward. 

The  vote  first  in  order  was  on  Butler's  amendn)ent,  that  is,  the  Cin- 
cinnati IMatfoim.  During  the  call  of  the  roll  of  the  States,  a  row 
broke  out  in  the  New  Jersey  delegation,  as  to  whether  the  delegates 
had  been  instructed  to  vote  as  an  unit.  This  was  important,  as  it  would 
determine  on  which  side  thiee  votes  should  be  cast.  The  chair  di  cided 
that  the  recommendation  of  the  New  Jersey  Convention,  that  the  dele- 
gates should  vote  as  an  unit,  was  equivalent  to  a  provision  to  that  effect; 
and  the  rules  required  that  delegates  should  vote  as  had  been  provided. 
The  decisi(tn  of  the  chair  was  appealed  from.  A  motion  was  nia<le  to 
lay  the  appeal  upon  the  table.  A  vote  by  States  was  demanded.  The 
appeal  was  not  laid  upon  the  table;  vote  145  to  150.  The  vote  was 
then  taken  directly  whether  the  chair  should  be  sustained.  The  chair 
was  overruled  by  a  vote  of  145  to  151.  The  roll  being  called  through 
on  the  Butler  resolution,  the  vote  stood  for  the  Cincinnati  Platform, 
without  tlic  (lotting  of  an  i,  or  the  crossing  of  a  t,  but  with  a  resolution 
about  the  protection  of  fureign-1  orn  citizens,  105  ayes,  198  noes,  as 
follows : 

Yeas — M.iine  3,  Massachusetts  8,  Connecticut  2J,  New  Jersey  5, 
Pennsylvania  10^,  Delaware  3,  Maryland  5^,  Virginia  12^.  North 
Carolina  10,  Georgia  10,  ^lissouri  4^,  Tennessee  11,  Kentucky  9, 
Minnesota  H,  Oregon  3^105. 

Nays — ^Jaine  5,  New  Hampshire  5,  Vermont  5,  MasFacbusetts  5, 
Rhode  Island  4,  Conneclicut  8^,  New  V^ork  35,  New  Jersey  2,  Penn- 
sylvania 1(>J-,  Maryland  2^,  Virginia  2^.  Soutli  Carolina  8,  Florida  3, 
Alabima  9,  Louisiana  6,  Mississippi  7,  Texas  4,  Arkansas  4,  Missouri 
4^,  Tennessee  1,  Kentucky  3,  Ohio  23,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11,  Mich- 
igan G,  Wisconsin  5,  Minnesota  2;!,  Iowa  4,  California  4 — 198. 

Just  before  this  vote  was  declared,  an  old  gentlemen  declared  on  the 
floor  that  the  gentleman  in  the  galleries  were  spitting  upon  those  I  clow. 
This  was  styled  a  '*  privileged  question."  The  gentlemen  in  the  gal- 
lery were  respectfully  requested  not  to  use  the  heads  of  gentlemen  be- 
low them  for  spittoons,  and  not  to  wear  their  hats  in  the  presence  of  the 
uncovered  Convention. 

And  now  came  the  tug  of  war — the  crucial  test — on  the  adoption  of 
the  minority,  or  Douglas-Popular  S  ivereigntySupreme  Court-amliigu- 
ous,  report  When  this  report  was  read,  Butler  of  Miissachusetis  moved 
to  lay  the  whole  .subject  on  the  table,  and  proceed  to  ballot  for  Pre.-iiient. 
This  Was  ov(M ruled,  and  the  vote  was  taken  direct  on  the  minority  plat- 
form. While  this  was  pending  a  Marylander  renewed  Butler's  motion, 
and  an  Alabumian  seconded  it  by  mistake.  Di.-covering  his  m  stake, 
ho  said,  "iMr.  I'resident,  I  don't  seeond  the  motion  of  that  man  down 
yonder."  The  Marylander  was  indignant,  and  jumping  up,  di.-j'layed 
a  neat-litiing  pair  of  light  kid  gloves,  and  the  round  face  of  u  y"»ung 
man.  He  yave  his  name,  and  said  he  would  be  very  ijlad  to  know  the, 
name  and  address  of  the  delegate  who  talked  of  "  that  man  doMii  yon- 


63 

der."  A  great  hearty,  good-natured  gentleman — a  two  hundred  and 
twenty  pounder — with  as  honest  a  face  as  you  would  find  in  a  day, 
loomed  up  from  his  chair,  and  said,  "I  intended  no  disrespect  to  the 
gentleman  from  Maryland — but  my  name  is  Tom  Cooper,  of  Alabama." 
The  house  thundered  applause,  and  the  Maryhmder  looked  as  if  he  had 
fished  for  a  seal  and  caught  a  rhinoceros.  He  gave  his  address,  and 
said  if  Tom  Cooper  would  call  upon  him  him,  they  would  take  a  drink 
together. 

Flournoy  of  Arkansas  had  a  personal  explanation,  and  said  he  was 
for  Popular  Sovereignty. 

The  States  were  then  called  on  the  motion  to  adopt  the  minority  res- 
olutions in  lieu  of  the  majority  report,  and  they  were  adopted  by  the 
following  vote  : 

Yeas — Maine  8,  New  Hampshire  5,  Vermont  5,  Massachusetts  7, 
Rhode  I.'^laiid  4,  Connecticut  6,  New  York  35,  New  Jersey  5,  Pennsyl- 
vania 12,  Maiyland  85,  Virginia  1,  Missouri  4,  Tennessee  1,  Ken- 
tucky 22,  Oliio  23,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11,  Michigan  6,  Wisconsin  5, 
Iowa  4,  Minnesota\4 — 165. 

Nays — Massachusetts  6,  New  Jersey  2,  Pennsylvania  15,  Delaware 
— ,  Maryland  4^,  Virginia  14,  North  Carolina  10,  South  Carolina  8, 
Georgia  10,  Florida  3,  Alabama  9,  Louisiana  6,  Mississippi  7,  Texas  4, 
Arkansas  4,  Missouri  5,  Tennessee  11,  Kentucky  9|,  Michigan  10. 
California  4,  Oregon  3—138. 

There  was  one  more  straight  vote  required  to  clinch  the  thing — that 
was  a  niiijiirity  vote  on  the  platform  as  amended  by  the  substitution  of 
the  minority  report.  Mr.  Builer  moved  lor  a  division  of  the  proposi- 
tion, and  n)oved  for  as  much  of  it  as  indorsed  the  Cincinnati  Platform 
simply,  the  chair  ruled  that  each  substantive  and  intelligible  proposi- 
tion (?)  could  be  taken  separately.  The  ciisis  was  now,  after  long 
postponement,  at  hand.  In  calling  the  vote  on  the  reaffirinalion  of  the 
Cincinnati  Platform,  a  delegate  from  Mississippi  arose,  his  face  livid 
with  excitement,  and  said  that  Mississippi,  believing  the  Cincinnati 
Platform  to  be  a  miserable  swindle  on  one  side  of  the  house  or  the  other, 
voted  no.  Arkansas  followed — and  the  cotton  States  generally  came 
into  line  und.er  the  lead  of  Mississippi.  Under  Mr.  Butler's  motion 
and  the  ruling  of  the  chair,  there  was  a  vote  on  the  first  resolution  of 
the  series,  thus : 

1.  FesolvfJ,  That  we,  the  Democracy  of  the  Union,  in  Convention  assembled, 
hereby  dichire  our  aflBrniance  of  the  resolutions  uuanimou.'-ly  iic]o])t((l  and  de- 
clared us  a  Plulform  of  Principles  by  the  Democratic  Couvetilioii  ut  (Jmeinnati, 
in  the  year  l8i)fi,  bt-lieving  thai  Democratic  principles  are  uucLan^culjIe  in  their 
nature,  when  applied  to  the  same  subject-matters. 

It  was  carried  as  follows  : 

YKAS-I-Maine  8,  New  Hampshire  5,  Veamnnt  5,  Massachucsetfs  13, 
Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  t).  New  York  35  ;  New  Jersiy  7,  Penn- 
sylvania 27,  Delaware  2,  Marjfland  5,  Virginia  14,  North  Carolina  10, 
Missouri  71,  Tennessee  10^,  Kentucky  12,  Ohio  23,  Indima  13,  IIU- 
Dois  11,  Michigan  6,  Wisconsin  5,  Iowa  4,  jMinnesotu  4,  Calilbrnia  A 
— ^o  i a . 

Nays — Delaware  1,  Maryland   8,    Virginia   1,   South   Carolina   8, 


64 

Georgia  10,  Florida  3,  Alabama  9,  Louisiana  6,  Mississippi  7,  Texas  4, 
Arkansas  4,  Missouri  H-,  Tennessee  1,  California  3d,  Oregon  3—65. 

Mr.  Drig^s  of  New  York  said  the  Convention  having  adopted  the 
Cincinnati  Platform,  he  moved  to  lay  all  the  resoIutioDS  on  the  table. 

The  motion  to  lay  on  the  table  was  lost. 

Vkas — Massachusetts  8^,  Connecticut  2,  New  Jersey  5,  Pennsyl- 
vania IG5,  Delaware  2,  Virginia  11,  North  Carolina  9,  South  Carolina 
8,  Tennessee,  lO.i,  Kentucky  Til,  Minnesota  1 — 81. 

Nays — Maine  8,  New  Hampshire  G,  Vermont  5,  Massachusetts  45, 
Rhode  Island  4.  Connecticut  4,  New  York  35,  New  Jersey  2,  Penn- 
sylvania 101,  Delaware  1,  Maryland  8,  Virginia  4,  North  Carolina  1, 
Georgia  10,  Florida  3,  Louisiana  6,  Arkansas  1,  Missouri  9,  Tennessee 
1^,  Kentucky  4|,  Ohio  23,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11,  Michigan  G,  Wis- 
consin 5,  Iowa  4,  Minnesota  3,  California  4,  Oregon  3 — 188. 

During  the  call,  Mr.  Walker  af  Alabama  withdrew  the  vote  of  his 
State. 

Mississippi  withdrew  her  vote. 

Arkansas  withdrew  three  of  her  votes. 

The  cry  goes  forth  from  one  delegate  after  another,  "in  these  solemn 
moments" — that  the  party  must  stick  together,  for  the  country  will  be 
ruined  if  it  does  not.  If  the  party  remains  united,  on  whatever  false 
and  hypocritical  platform,  or  pretense,  the  country  is  safe.  If  the  par- 
ty blows  up,  the  country  is  doomed,  of  course. 

It  is  said  that  the  South  can't  stay  in  the  Convention  if  the  Cincin- 
nati swindle,  and  an  indorsement  of  a  court  decision  variou.sly  inter- 
preted, is  thrust  upon  the  country  as  the  Democratic  platform.  The 
South  thought  yesterday  they  could  stay  in  the  Convention,  after  the 
ambiguous  platform  was  put  forth,  for  the  sake  of  defeating  Douglas. 
But  to-day,  they  have  slept  upon  it  and  become  hotter,  and  are  up  to 
the  explosive  point. 

Mr.  Gittings  of  Maryland  insisted  on  talking  out  of  order.  He  ac- 
cused the  chair  of  ruling  him  out  of  order  because  he  came  from  a 
slaveholding  Slate.  As  the  President  was  somewhat  peremptory  with 
him,  he  said: 

"  Only  one  word,  sir.  I  want  to  be  heard.  JEhe  only  time  I  ever 
remember  to  have  seen  our  worthy  chairman  before  was  in  1840,  when 
he  made  one  of  the  most  violent  Whig  speeches  I  ever  heard."  [Cheers, 
hisses  and  laughter.] 

Mr.  Ewing  of  Tennessee  called  for  a  separate  vote  on  the  following 
preamble  and  resolution  : 

luusinucli  as  dili'erences  of  opiiiimi  exist  in  the  Demoonitic  party  lus  to  the  na- 
ture and  extent  of  tiie  power.s  of  a  Territorial  Legislatiu"e,  and  as  to  the  powerK 
and  duties  of  Con<^ress,  under  tlie  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  over  the 
innlitntlon  of  slavery  within  the  Territories: 

h'fxolved.  That  tlie  Denioenitie  party  will  abide  by  the  decisions  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  the  I  nited  Stales  on  the  questions  ol  constitutional  law. 

Mr.  Stuart  of  Michigan  said,  if  the  gentleman  did  not  want  the  res- 
olution, we  of  the  North  did  not. 

Hon.  Bedford  Brown  of  North  Carolina  warned  his  Northern  friends 
not  to  adopt  this  preamble  and  resolution.     It  swept  off  every  barrier 


65 

of  tlie  Constitution,  and  would  destroy  the  Democratic  party  and  the 
country.      [Great  applause.] 

Mr.  llicliard.son  wanted  to  speak,  but  Mr.  Hooker  of  Mississippi 
persisted  in  raisins;  a  point  of  order  on  him.  John  Cochrane  said  there 
might  be  peace-offerings  coming. 

Amidst  a  babel  of  noise  and  confusion  the  vote  was  taken  according 
to  the  call  of  Mr.  Ewing. 

The  roll  call  was  constantly  interrupted  by  questions  and  explana- 
tions. 

The  Northern  States  first  voted  aflBrmatively,  but  finding  the  South 
refused  to  vote,  changed  their  votes  to  the  negative,  amidst  cries  of 
"  What's  the  dodge  now  ?  "   "  That's  a  back  down  !  "  and  the  like. 

The  vote  was  announced,  and  the  preamble  and  resolutions  were  re- 
jected. 

It  was  rejected  by  the  following  vote  : 

Ykas — New  Hampshire  1,  Rhode  Island  4,  Pennsylvania  8,  Mis- 
souri 4,  Kentucky  4 — 21. 

Nays — Maine  8,  New  Hampshire  4,  Vermont  5,  Massachusetts  13, 
Connecticut  6,  New  York  35,  New  Jersey  7,  Pennsylvania  19,  Dela- 
ware 2,  Maryland  8,  Virginia  15,  North  Carolina  10,  South  Carolina 
8,  Missouri  5,  Tennessee  12,  Kentucky  8,  Ohio  23,  Indiana  18,  Illi- 
nois 11,  Michigan  6,  Wisconsin  5,  Iowa  4,  Minnesota  4,  California  4, 
Oregon  3—288. 

A  division  was  called  on  all  the  remaining. resolutions,  and  they  were 
severally  adopted  ;  that  relating  to  the  rights  of  naturalized  citizens  re- 
ceiving a  unanimous  vote,  even  in  this  divided  Convention.  The  reso- 
lutions adopted,  in  addition  to  the  Cincinnati  Platform,  are  as  follows: 

3.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Uaitetl  States  to  aflford  ample  and  com- 
plete protectiou  to  all  its  citizens,  whether  at  home  or  abroad,  and  whether  na- 
tive or  foreign. 

4.  Rexobied.  That  one  of  the  necessities  of  the  age.  in  a  military,  commercial 
and  postal  point  of  view,  is  ppeedy  communication  between  the  Atlantic  and 
Paci tic  States ;  and  the  Democratic  party  pledge  such  constitutional  Govern- 
raeut  aid  as  will  insure  the  construction  of  a  Railroad  to  the  Pacific  coast,  at 
the  earliest  practicable  period. 

5.  Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  are  in  favor  of  the  acquisitio"b  of  the 
Islaud  of  Cuba,  on  such  terms  as  shall  be  honorable  to  ourselves  and  just  to 
Spain. 

6.  Re.wloed,  That  the  enactments  of  State  Legislatures  to  defeat  the  faithful 
executiou  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  law,  are  hostile  in  character,  subversive  of  the 
Constitution,  aud  revolutionary  in  their  effect. 

Mr.  Siuart  of  Michigan  now  procured  the  floor,  and  made  a  very  ir- 
ritating speech,  exceedingly  ill-timed,  unless  he  intended  to  d.nve  out 
the  Gulf  States,  and  he  has  been  accused  of  entertaining  such  purpose. 

Writing,  some  days  afterward,  of  this  scene,  I  said  of  the  part  Mr. 
Stuart  performed  :  s. 

So,  as  :Oon  as  the  platform  was  adopted,  he  took  the  stand  upon  a 
motion  to  reconsider,  made  for  the  pur[)Ose  of  injecting  a  speech  into 
the  proceedings  at  that  stage,  and  proceeded  in  the  most  offensive  way 
to  claw  at  the  old  sore  of  the  party,  already  full  of  fever.  If  his  ob- 
ject was  to  produce  irritation,  he  succeeded  admiraldy.  The  explosion 
followed  fa»t  upon  his  incendiary  shaking  of  fire-brands  in  the  party 
5 


66 

powder-Louse.  But  tbere  was  more  powder  in  the  explosion  than  Stuart 
calculated  upon.  Instead  ot  merely  blowing  off  u  fragment  or  two, 
and  producing  the  long-coveted  reaction  in  the  North,  one  half  of  the 
South — the  very  citadel  and  heart  of  Democracy — was  blown  away  ; 
and  the  other  half  prevented  from  following,  only  by  that  which  was  ia 
effect  a  real  reconsideration  of  the  platform,  the  last  thing  which  Stuart 
wanted. 

Afi«r  Stuart's  speech,  Mr.  Walker  of  Alabama  read  the  protest  of 
that  State  against  the  proceedings  of  the  CoDventioD,  and  formally  with- 
drew from  it. 

Mr.  Barry  did  the  satne  thing  for  Mississippi.  Mr.  Mouton  did  the 
same  for  Louisiana ;  Gen.  Simmons  for  South  Carolina  ;  Mr.  Milton  for 
Florida;  Mr.  Bryan  of  Texas,  and  Mr.  Burrows  of  Arkansas.  The 
speeches  which  give  the  spirit  of  this  exciting  period  better  than  any 
others,  were  those  of  Mr.  Mouton  of  Louisiana,  and  Mr.  Gleiin  of 
Mississippi,  the  latter  making  decidedly  the  speech  of  the  occasion. 

8PKKCH    OF    MR.    MOUTO-V. 

Mr.  Mouton  of  Louisiana.  I  have  but  a  short  communication  to 
make  to  this  Convention.  I  do  not  do  so  in  my  individual  name.  I 
am  instructed  by  the  delegates  of  Louisiana,  whom  I  represent,  to  say 
that  they  will  not  participate  any  more  in  the  proceedings  of  this  Con- 
vention. Heretofore  we  have  been  in  the  habit  of  saying,  that  the 
Democracy  of  the  country  were  harmonious;  but  can  we  say  so  to-day 
with  any  truth  ?  Are  we  not  divided,  and  divided  in  such  a  manner 
that  we  can  never  be  again  united  and  reconciliated,  because  we  are 
divided  upon  principle?  Can  we  adopt  this  platform  voted  for  by  the 
majority  of  the  Convention?  Can  we  go  home  to  our  constituents,  and 
put  one  construction  upon  it,  and  the  Northern  Democrats  another? 
No.  I  think  I  speak  the  sentiment  of  my  State  when  I  say,  she  never 
will  place  a  double  construction  upon  a  platform. 

It"  we  are  to  fight  the  Black  Republicans,  let  us  do  it  with  a  bold 
front,  and  together.  Let  us  take  the  same  arms — let  us  sustain  the 
same  regiment.  We  say  that  the  Douglas  principles,  adopted  to-day 
by  the  majority,  can  never  be  the  principles  of  the  South.  And  let  me 
say,  at  the  same  time,  that  I  should  have  suggested  the  propriety  of 
dispensing  with  all  these  votes,  and  have  come  at  once  to  the  conclusion 
we  have  now  reached. 

Mr.  M.  then  argued  on  the  principles  of  the  two  platforms,  and 
declared  his  conviction  that  the  only  way  to  meet  and  to  check  Black 
Republican  aggression  was  to  adopt  the  doctrine  of  protection  by  Con- 
gress to  the  property  of  Southern  citizens  in  all  the  Territoiies  of  the 
Union. 

SPRBCU    OK    MR.    GLKNN. 

Mr.  Glenn  of  Mississippi  arose.  He  said :  For  the  first  time,  for 
the  only  time,  for  the  last  time,  and  in  the  name  of  the  State  he  had 
the  honor  in  purt  to  represent,  he  desired  to  say  a  few  words.  He  held 
in  his  hand  the  3)lemn  act  of  the  Mississippi  delegation  upon  this  floor. 
It  Mras  not  a  hasty  act,  not  conceived  in  passion  or  carried  out  from  mere 


67      ' 

caprice  or  disappointment.  It  was  the  firm  resolve  of  the  great  body 
they  represented,  which  was  expressed  in  the  Convention  who  sent  them 
here,  and  that  resolve  that  people,  we,  their  representatives,  will  main- 
tain at  all  times  and  at  all  costs.  They  came  not  to  dictate,  and  since 
their  arrival,  the  intercourse  has  been  courteous  with  their  brethren 
from  other  State  Conventions,  as  far  as  personality  was  concerned.  But 
that  was  not  all.  They  claimed  the  exercise  of  the  principles  upou 
which  the  party  must  stand.  He  did  not  ask  them  to  adopt  a  platform 
opposed  to  their  conscientious  principles.  He  claimed  to  come  as  an 
equal  member  of  the  common  Confederacy,  with  the  simple  desire  of  an 
acknowledgment  of  their  equal  rights  within  that  Confederacy.  What 
was  the  construction  of  the  platform  of  1856?  You  of  the  North  said 
it  meant  one  thing ;  we  of  the  South  another.  Either  you  were  right 
or  we  wrong.  They  ask  which  was  right  and  which  wrong.  The 
North  had  maintained  their  position,  but,  while  doing  so.  they  did  not 
acknowledge  the  rights  of  the  South.  Turn  back  to  one  of  their  lead- 
ing men,  once  representing  a  sovereign  State  in  the  Uni(.n,  who  then 
voted  that  Congress  had  the  constitutional  power  to  pa.ss  the  Wilmot 
proviso,  or  to  exclude,  and  now,  when  the  Supreme  Court  has  said  it  is 
in  that  power,  he  comes  forward  and  says  that  Congress  is  impotent  to 
protect  slave  power. 

The  speaker  then  referred  to  the  gentleman  from  Ohio,  who,  a  few 
days  since,  said  if  a  Territorial  Legislature  should  misu.^e  its  powers  or 
abuse  them.  Congress  can  wipe  it  out  altogether.  They  would  part 
with  their  lives  before  they  would  acknowledge  the  principles  for  which 
they  contend.  We  say  go  your  way,  and  we  will  go  ours.  The  South 
leaves  not  like  Hagar  in  the  wilderness;  but  he  would  tell  them  that  in 
le.'--s  than  sixty  days  they  would  find  a  united  South,  standing  shoulder 
to  shoulder. 

Senator  Bayard  of  Delaware  now  announced  his  withdrawal  from  the 
Convention,  and  Senator  Saulsbury  of  the  same  State,  stated  that 
he  did  not  know  what  to  do. 

Mr.  Merrick  of  Illinois  made  a  little  speech.     He  said : 

"A  Southern  man  by  birth — it  is  but  three  years  since  I  parted 
from  that  Southern  soil — and  upon  the  tide  of  emigration  sought  ray 
fortunes  in  the  great  North-west.  Coming  back  here,  and  hoping  to 
join  in  fraternal  concord  and  mutual  love  with  my  Southern  ijrethren  of 
the  Democi-atic  party,  I  find,  sir,  star  after  star  madly  shooting  from  the 
great  Democratic  galaxy.  Why  is  it,  and  what  is  to  come  of  it  ?  Does 
it  presage  that,  hereafter,  star  after  star  will  shoot  from  the  galaxy  of 
the  Republic,  and  the  American  Union  become  a  fragment,  and  a 
parcel  of  sectional  republics?" 

Points  of  order  were  raised. 

Mr.  Russell  of  Virginia  made  a  speech  for  that  State.     He  said  ; 

"  Hitherto  the  career  of  Virginia  has  been  side  by  side  with  all  her 
sister  States,  North,  South,  East  and  West,  and  beneath  a  banner  on 
which  every  State  has  its  star,  as  members  of  one  common  and  united 
constellation;  but  it  must  be  known  to  this  assembly  that  if  indeed  the 
hour  shall  ever  come  when  the  North  and  South  must  separate,  the  destiny 
of  Virginia  is  with  the  South.     [Loud  cheers.]     She  will  then  have  to 


68 

say  to  the  Soutli,  'where  thnu  gocst  I  will  go;  thy  people  shall  be  my 
peitple,  and  thy  God  Khali  tie  my  God.'      [(irvat  diet  lio}^  ] 

"  JJut,  f-ir.  she  will  pause  before  ^lie  detirniinos  that  iliat  event  is  in- 
evitable. Virginia  stands  in  the  inidnt  of  her  si>ter  Stati-8,  in  gariiionts 
red  with  the  blood  of  her  children  slain  in  the  first  outbreak  of  the 
'irrepressible  conflict.'  But,  sir,  not  when  her  children  fell  at  midtiight 
beneath  the  weapon  of  the  assassin,  was  her  heart  penetrated  with  so 
profound  a  grief  as  that  which  will  wring  it  when  she  is  obliged  to 
cho<jse  between  a  6ep:irate  destiny  with  the  South  and  her  common  des- 
tiny with  the  entire  Republic." 

In  conclusion,  he  stated  Virginia  wanted  an  opportunity  for  consulta- 
tion, and  the  Convention  adjourned. 

[So  great  is  the  interest  ielt  in  this  day's  proceedings,  that  T  recapit- 
ulate to  some  extent,  by  inserting  the  descriptive  letter  below :] 

8CENK3    OF    THE    DAY    DESCRIBED — HOW    THE   DISKOPTION    HAPPENED. 

CnAKLKSToN.  S.  C,  Mondny  night,  April  30. 
It  was  asserted,  early  in  the  sitting  of  the  Convention,  that  it  would 
be  impossible  for  the  South  to  submit  to  Mr.  Douglas  as  the  nominee 
upon  a  platform  on  which  it  would  be  possible  for  him  to  stand.  The 
Douglas  men  at  first  laughed  tliis  to  scorn.  Presently  they  saw  such 
indications  of  earnestness,  that  they  paused  and  considered  the  matter, 
and  became  much  more  tolerant,  and  seemed  willing  to  acquiesce  in  any 
sort  of  a  platform,  provided  the  South  would  allow  the  nomination  of 
Douglas.  The  determination  of  the  New  York  contest,  and  the  adop- 
tion of  a  rule  allowing  individual  delegates  from  uninstructed  States  to 
vote  as  they  pleased,  gave  the  friends  of  Mr.  Douglas  a  majority  in  the 
Convention.  They  proceeded  to  use  that  majority,  for  the  purpose 
of  making  sure  of  their  game.  They  joined  the  ultra-Southern  States 
in  demanding  the  test  fight  upon  the  platform.  It  became  apparent 
the  moment  liie  platform  was  taken  into  consideration  that  there  were 
diflferences  it  would  be  impossible  for  honest  men  to  accommodate.  The 
Dou'^las  men  begged  for  a  chance  for  ambiguity.  They  craved  and 
clamored  for  a  false  pretense.  They  begged  to  be  allowed  to  cheat,  and 
for  the  privilege  of  being  cheated.  They  were  particularly  an.vious  for 
success.  They  were  not  so  particular  about  principle.  The  South 
would  stand  fast  for  the  great  principle  of  constitutional  rights  as  she 
understood  it ;  and  by  her  more  ultra-representatives  declared,  that  if 
by  the  bare  numerical  majority  of  votes,  the  Southern  IMa'form  was 
rejected,  and  the  Srjuatter  Sovereignty  Platform,  or  some  dishonorable 
equivocation  protruded,  she  would  withdraw  from  the  Convention.  By 
this  time  the  Douglas  men  had  discovered,  that  whereas  they  had  just 
about  a  majority,  it  would  be  impo.ssible  for  them  to  obtain  u  two  thirds 
vote  in  a  fall  Convention.  They  were  willing,  therefore,  that  a  few 
ultra-Southern  States -raiglit  go  out,  and  allow  them  to  nominate  their 
man.  All  at  once  they  became  very  cheerful  on  the  subject  of  a  dis- 
ruption of  the  (\»nvention.  They  could  go  North  and  get  two  votes 
(electoral)  for  their  nominee,  for  every  Southern  vote  that  would  leave 
jhe  Convention.  Their  game  then  was,  to  have  three  or  four  States,  at 
f 


69 

inopt,  go  out.  Tbey  wanted  a  little  eruption,  but  not  a  great  one.  On 
Friday  last  it  appeared  that  if  the  majority  insisted  upon  its  ambiguous 
platform,  there  would  be  a  tremendous  explosion.  Even  the  Kentucky 
delegation  had  informally  determined,  only  two  of  the  delegates  dissen- 
ting, that  if  the  exigency  arose,  that  Alabama  &  Co.  njust  go  out, 
Kentucky  must  go  along.  Douglas  men  were  alarmed  at  the  prospect, 
and  l-5igler's  resolution  to  recommit  the  platform  to  the  committee,  was 
carried  against  the  Douglas  forces,  by  a  vote  of  151  to  152.  So  the 
fight  went  over  until  Saturday. 

The  committee  succeeded  in  modifying  the  reports,  but  not  in  chang- 
ing their  es'-'ential  character.  Saturday  w;is  spent  in  the  most  tedious 
and  tasteless,  flat,  stale,  and  unprofitable  debate  that  it  has  ever  been 
my  misfortune  to  listen  to.  It  was  worse  than  when  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives resolves  itself  into  a  debating  society,  and  fifth-rate  mem- 
bers diaw  on  each  other  and  the  people  to  the  dismay  of  the  galleries, 
reams  of  foolscap  filled  with  essrys  on  the  slavery  question.  After  the 
flood  of  twaddle  was  stopped  by  the  call  for  the  previous  question,  the 
parlirnentary  fight  was  interesting,  and  made  amends  for  the  painful 
hours  spent  in  listening  to  the  drivel  of  inconsequential  debate.  The 
South  filibustered  to  prevent  a  vote  on  the  platform  that  night.  The 
North  was  resolved  to  have  a  vote.  After  some  hours  spent  in  skir- 
mishing, as  I  have  elsewhere  described,  the  matter  was  compromised  by 
disposing  of  the  preliminary  points,  and  agreeing  to  come  to  a  fair  vote 
this  morning.  Yesterday  there  was  a  report  current  that  the  South,  dis- 
covering the  total  impossibility  of  the  nomination  of  Douglas  while  the 
Convention  remained  con.solidated,  his  full  strength  having  been  shown, 
and  amounting  to  a  bare  majority,  would  find  some  excuse  for  staying 
in  the  Convention  even  after  the  adoption  of  the  minority  report,  and 
would  slaughter  Douglas  under  the  two-thirds  rule.  The  most  talka- 
tive and  rabid  of  the  Douglas  men  swore  that  if  this  was  done,  they 
would  repeal  the  two-thirds  rule,  and  let  the  Convention  explode  if  it 
wanted  so  to  do.  Last  night  it  was  reported,  and  I  was  told  by  South- 
ern men  it  was  so,  that  the  only  State  that  would  go  out  was  Alabama. 
There  was  no  possibility  of  preventing  Yancey  &  Co.  from  going  out, 
but  the  rest  of  them  would  stay  in  and  slaughter  Douglas.  The  par- 
tisans of  the  Little  Giant  looked  blue  at  this.  There  were  other  re- 
ports afloat  that  were  somewhat  exciting.  The  rabid  Douglasitcs  were 
alarmed  at  signs  of  discontent  and  shakiness  in  several  of  the  North- 
western delegations.  They  said  it  had  been  discovered  there  was  a  par- 
cel of  delegates  to  whom  it  would  not  do  to  trust  the  secrets  of  the 
Douglas  party.  Those  fellows  were  leaky,  and  whenever  thp  Conven- 
tion adjourned  they  were  found  together  buzzing  and  busy  as  green  flies. 
It  was  known  that  Slidell  &  Co.  were  willing  to  buy  all  such  fellows, 
and  there  was  alarm  in  the  camp  of  Douglas  on  the  platform  question. 
They  were  afraid  the  majority  report  would  be  adopted  at  Inst.  There 
were  threats  that  if  this  was  the  case  some  of  the  Northwestern  States 
would  bolt.  These  threats  were  seriously  made,  too.  And  the  North- 
western men  had  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  they  could  not  and  would 
not  fi^ht  upon  such  a  jilatform.  They  would  go  home  and  fold  their 
hands,  and  let  those  who  believed  in  using  all  the  powers  of  the  Fed- 


70 

eral  Government  fur  the  protection  of  slavery  against  the  people  of  a 
Territory,  do  the  work.  This  morning,  however,  it  became  appartnt 
that  the  Douglas  iiiiijority  was  firm,  and  the  South  desperate.  It  was 
not  long  before  every  observer  .saw  that  the  long-looked  for  explosion 
was  at  hand.  The  South  would  not  stay  in  the  Convention,  even  to 
defeat  Dougla.s,  if  the  double-hhufBe  platform  were  adopted. 

I  shall  not  now  trace  all  the  tw'stings  and  turnings  of  the  fight.  Let 
it  be  sufficient  to  say  that,  in  the  first  place,  the  Cincinnati  Platform  by 
itself  was  voted  down. 

The  minority  rcKilutions  were  then  carried  as  a  substitute  for  the  ma- 
jority resolutions,  by  a  vote  of  105  to  138 — this  13S  Lh  the  solid  anti- 
Douglas  strength.  Now  the  question  came  on  the  adoptitm  of  the 
sub.«tituted  re|X)rt — the  definite,  irrevocable  vote  of  the  Convention  upon 
the  Douglas  Platform,  was  divided  into  its  substantive  propo;sitions. 
The  resolution  reaffirming  the  Cincinnati  Platform,  believing  Demo- 
cratic principles  to  be  unchangeable  in  their  nature,  was  first  voted  upon, 
and  it  was  carried  by  237^  to  05.  There  was  a  motion  now  made  to 
lay  all  the  rest  of  the  report  upon  the  table.  This  would  have  been 
simply  the  adoption  of  the  Cincinnati  Platform,  and  it  was  defeated, 
81  to  li<8.  \\  bile  this  vote  was  being  taken,  Alabama,  Missi.?sippi  and 
Arkansas  withdrew  their  votes.  Now  the  question  arose  upon  the 
adoption  of  the  Squatter  Sovereignty  part  of  the  platform — that  part 
wherein  it  is  stated  that,  "inasmuch  as  differences  of  opinion  exist  in 
the  Democratic  party,"  it  will  abide  by  the  Supreme  Court.  The  Hon. 
Bedford  Brown  now  saw  the  crisis.  The  political  tornado  was  about  to 
burst.  The  barometer  indicated  a  sudden  storm.  Mr.  Brown  did  not 
know  it  was  too  late  to  save  the  party,  and  the  country  attached  thereto, 
and  he  made  an  appeal  to  gentlemen,  as  piteous,  as  solemn,  as  agoniz- 
ingly earnest,  as  ever  a  man  offered  up  for  his  life,  that  the  Convention 
should  not  pass  that  resolution,  and  thereby  disrupt  and  destroy  the 
Democratic  party.  He  called  upon  gentlemen  to  pause  upou  the  brink 
of  the  tremendous  precipice  upon  which  they  stood,  and  to  look  into 
the  gulf  before  they  took  the  leap. 

^lr.  Vancey  caught  my  eye  at  this  "  solemn  moment,"  as  various 
gentlemen  in  the  Convention  insisted  upon  calling  it,  and  he  was  smiling 
as  a  bridegroom.  He  hud  evidently  made  up  his  mind.  He  was  not 
perplexed  by  saucy  doubts  and  fears. 

Mr.  Stuart  of  Michigan  wished  to  speak,  but  was  put  down  by  loud 
cries  of  "  Order." 

Mr.  William  A.  Richardson  of  Illinois  wished  to  speak.  As  the 
crisis  had  arrived,  and  as  Richardson  is  a  great  man  for  a  crisis,  and  had 
withdrawn  Doughis  from  the  Cincinnati  Convention,  it  was  hoped  that 
he  had  .something  to  say  which  WduUl  relieve  the  party  from  its  mi.scry. 
There  were  cries  of  "  Hear  Richardson."  A  thrill  of  excitement 
passed  around  tiie  hall,  and  every  body  leaned  forward  or  stood  up  to 
see  and  hear  the  right-hand  man  of  tiie  Little  Giant  on  the  crisis. 
Richard.von  commenced  with  his  usual  hoarseness  and  solenmity.  when 
Judge  Meek  of  Alabama,  a  gentleman  six  feet  eight  inches  in  height, 
with  a  splendid  voice,  aro.se  and  made  a  point  oT  order  against  Stuart  of 
Michigan,  who  still  seemed,  by  standing  in  bis  place,  to  claim  the  floor. 


71 

Judge  Meek's  point  of  order  canned  another  sensation.  Presently  the 
Jjidge's  point  of  order  was  ruled  not  well  taken,  and  silence  was  ob- 
tained, when  John  Cochrane  of  New  York  jumped  up  and  called 
"  M'ls-ter — PresA-DKNT  !"  and  proceeded  to  urge  that  Richardson  might 
be  heard.  He  believed  Richardson  was  about  to  bring  "  peace-offer- 
ings." Everybody  knew  there  could  not  be  any  pe;ice-offtrings  but 
the  dead  body  of  Douglas,  and  it- was  thought  that  would  be  a  singular 
time  to  make  an  ofToring  of  the  corpse  of  the  Little  Giant.  The  great 
crowds  in  the  galleries  heaved  like  big  waves.  They  thouoht  some- 
thing prodigious  was  about  to  occur.  But  no  sooner  had  Richardson 
opened  his  mouth  and  commenced  to  speak  of  the  delegation  from  Illi- 
nois, and  its  intention  in  appearing  there,  than  Mr.  Hooper  of  Missis- 
sippi olijected  peremptorily,  and  insisted  and  persisted  in  calling  Rich- 
ardson to  order;  and  by  insisting  upon  his  point  of  order,  when  ninety- 
nine  out  of  every  hundred  persons  were  willing  and  anxious  to  hear 
Richardson,  would  not  let  him  be  heard.  This  was  considered  an  act 
of  discourtesy  toward  Mr.  R.  of  the  most  flagrant  character.  A  South- 
ern gentleman  explained  it  to  me  this  evening,  by  saying  that  the  South 
was  at  that  moment  in  a  delicate  position,  and  did  not  want  any  traps 
sprung.  He  also  excused  the  seeming  discourtesy,  by  speaking  of 
Richardson's  discourteous  behavior  toward  Randall  of  Pennsylvania. 
And  now  ensued  a  most  extraordinary  scene.  Instead  of  proceeding  to 
put  their  explanatory  resolution  upon  the  Cincinnati  Platform,  stating 
that  there  were  differences  of  opinion  in  the  Democratic  party,  and  re- 
ferring to  the  Courts  for  doctrine,  the  Douglasites  were  suddenly  dis- 
covered in  full  retreat. 

The  object  of  Richardson,  in  attempting  to  gain  the  floor,  was  then 
at  once  seen.  He  had  desired  to  say,  that  Illinois  and  the  North-west 
in  general,  had  not  been  anxious  to  have  any  thing  but  the  Cincinnati 
Platform,  and  would  be  content  with  that,  if  the  others  would.  This 
was  to  have  been  his  peace-offering — his  olive-branch.  As  the  Douglas 
men  did  not  understand  the  movement,  several  delegations  stood  firm, 
and  voted  roundly  for  the  adoption  of  the  explanatory  resolution,  ac- 
cording to  the  original  programme.  Most  of  the  States  passed  the 
point,  however,  and  consulted.  New  York  retired  from  the  hall  to  con- 
sult. It  took  some  minutes  for  the  new  tactics  of  Richardson  to  get 
circulation,  and  in  the  mean  time,  as  one  delegation  after  another  under- 
stood the  point,  the  votes  of  States  were  coun'ed,  and  finally,  with  a 
general  rush,  the  only  resolution  having  the  slightest  significance  in  the 
minority  report,  was  stricken  out.  The  Douglas  army  had  retreated 
behind  the  position  of  Gen.  Butler  of  Massachusetts.  By  a  flank 
movement,  they  had  placed  themselves  upon  the  Cincinnati  Platform, 
pure  and  simple. 

Those  who  had  no  insight  into  things,  thought  at  this  moment  that 
the  dead  point  of  danger  was  safely  passed.  The  fact  was  (if  we  may 
change  the  figure  somewhat  materially  from  those  hitherto  used),  the 
ship  had  struck  the  rock,  and  just  as  the  passengers  thought  they  were 
floating  safely  into  deep  water,  the  vessel  was  actually  sinking.  It  was 
ominous  that,  from  this  time,  Georgia,  Florida,  Alabama,  Louisiana, 
Mississippi,  Texas  and  Arkansas,  declined   to  vote. 


72 

The  Convention  now  procoedcfl,  as  if  in  oarnept,  to  take  tlie  vote  bj 
States,  on  the  several  propositions  tacked  to  tlie  tail  of  the  explanatciry  res- 
olution, fioni  which  ihiw  had  leen  t-evcred.  1  hcse  propositions  were  aliout 
protecting  foreigners,  and  l)uilding  a  Pacific  Railroad,  and  acquiring  Cuba 
"on  terms  honorable  to  ourselves  and  just  to  Spain,"  etc.;  and  the  vote  was 
unanimous  in  all  cases  excepting  that  regarding  the  Pacific  Railroad, 
and  nearly  so  in  that  case — the  Gulf  States  still  refu^ing  to  vote. 
There  were  several  attempts  during  the  reading  of  the  poor  chip-trap 
resolutions  (the  substance  of  all  of  which  was  in  the  Cincinnati  I^latforiu 
already)  to  get  up  a  show  of  entliusiasm.  The  failures  in  each  ease 
were  extremely  dre;iry.  The  Convention  was  under  the  frown  of  King 
Cotton,  and  his  displeasure  was  upon  it  like  a  blight  or  deadly  night- 
shade. And  now  the  platform  was  constructed  as  it  stands,  the  most 
uncouth,  di.-jonted,  illogical,  confused,  cowardly  and  contemptible 
thing  in  the  history  of  platforms,  mean  and  cowardly  as  they  have  been 
from  the  beginning.  Mr.  Stuart  of  Michigan  moved  a  rect)n.>-idt'ratiun 
of  the  vote,  and  proceeded  to  speak  upon  it.  He  was  evidently  labor- 
ing under  the  inipres?ion  that  he  was  full  of  a  very  powerful  speech. 
When  he  undertook  to  find  it,  however,  he  discovered  his  mistake,  and 
soon  got  into  the  old  rut  about  the  gullant  and  glorious  North-west,  and 
how  womlerfully  the  Norihern  Democracy  had  stood  up  for  the  South, 
and  had  fought,  bled  and  died  for  the  South — and  he  seemed  to  re- 
proach the  South  with  inconsistency,  and  with  having  demanded  of  the 
Northern  Democracy  more  than  they  could  bear.  He  stated  that  Mr. 
Yancey  had  admitted  that  the  South  had  a.sked  new  guarantees  of 
Southern  safety  from  the  Northern  Democracy.  Yancey  corrected  him. 
He  had  not  made  such  admission.  He  had  simply  contended  for  the 
Southern  construction  of  the  Cincinnati  Platform,  and  repudiated  am- 
biguity. Stuart  was  getting  into  hot  water  at  every  plunge,  and  his 
fine  round  bald  head  {rlowed  liiie  the  full  moon,  as  he  was  making  mair 
ters  wor.>;e.  Stuart  is  one  of  the  best  parliamentarians  in  the  country, 
and  a  man  of  fine  intellect,  and  he  would,  in  spite  of  the  thinness  of 
his  hair,  be  a  handsome  man,  if  it  were  not  for  his  nose,  which  is 
wretchedly  broken  down,  and  gives  him  a  P.  R.  sort  of  appearance. 

Senator  Saulsbury  of  Delaware  was  greatly  concerned.  He  still 
hoped  to  save  the  Democratic  party.  He  still  hoped  to  prevent  the 
dire  combustion  and  ruin  from  breaking  forth  and  cousuming  the  pre- 
cious old  party — legacy  from  our  fathers,  and  so  forth.  Mr.  Saulsbury 
rushed  in  to  save  the  country — that  is,  he  stood  upright  in  his  chair. 
He  is  a  very  well-looking  man — fine,  intellectual  face,  brilliant  eyati, 
and  a  vast  assortment  of  black  hair.  He  had  forgotten  his  hair,  and 
in  the  confusion  and  excitement  of  the  moment  it  hung  all  over  his 
forehead  and  into  his  eyes.  He  made  an  appeal  to  the  patriotism  of 
Stuart  to  desi-st,  as  he  was  manifestly  stirring  the  waters  of  bitterness. 
Three  or  four  gentlemen  were  anxious  to  reply  to  Mr.  Stuart.  Ean- 
dall  of  Pennsylvania  wished  to  do  something  grand,  gloomy,  and  pecu- 
liar, in  showing  up  the  fallacy  of  the  statement  that  the  Northern  De- 
mocracy had  ever  Iteen  committed  to  Scjuatter  Sovereignty. 

Mr.  Randall  is  a  sliort,  stout  old  gentleman  with  a  round  and  wrin- 
kled sort  of  head,  while  his  features  habitually  express  the  most  fierce 


73 

discontent.  Stuart  finally  retired  from  the  platform,  having  done  a 
very  inflammatory  thing,  and  being  tolerably  well  informed  of  the  fact. 

And  now  commenced  the  regular  stampede.  Alabama  led  the  South- 
ern column.  Mr.  Walker  of  that  State,  a  tall,  slender,  pale  gentle- 
man, able  in  controversy  and  graceful  in  movement,  called  the  atten- 
tion of  the  house  to  a  communication  from  the  State  of  Alabama, 
which  he  proposed  to  read  from  the  clerk's  desk.  There  was  a  shudder 
of  excitement,  an  universal  stir  over  the  house,  and  then  for  the  first 
time  during  the  day,  profound  stillness.  Mr.  W.  proceeded  to  give  the 
reasons  which  had  influenced  Alabama  to  retire  from  the  Convention  at 
that  point.  They  were,  first,  the  instructions  of  the  Alabama  Conven- 
tion ;  second,  the  conviction  the  delegation  felt  that  it  was  its  duty  to 
retire,  as  justice  had  not  been  done  the  South.  When  he  concluded, 
which  he  did  by  stating  that  there  could  not  thereafter  be  any  represen- 
tation from  the  State  of  Alabama  in  that  Convention,  the  delegation  left 
their  .seats  and  made  their  way  to  various  points,  where  they  took  posi- 
tion as  spectators.  Mississippi  went  next,  with  less  formality  but  more 
vim.  Her  declarations  of  the  manner  in  which  the  Northern  Democra- 
cy had  been  found  wanting,  and  of  her  purposes,  were  exceedingly  ex- 
plicit. The  Northern  Democracy  had  been  found  anxious  to  dodge  the 
issues  before  the  country.  That  would  never  do  for  Mississippi.  She 
cast  her  fortunes  with  those  of  her  sister  State,  Alabama.  Mr.  Glenn 
of  Mississippi  mounted  a  chair,  and  facing  the  Ohio  delegation,  which 
sat  directly  behind  Mississippi,  made  one  of  the  most  impas.sioned  and 
thrilling  twenty-minute  speeches  to  which  I  have  ever  listened.  It  was 
evident  that  every  word  was  from  his  deepest  convictions.  He  was  pale 
as  ashes,  and  his  eyes  rolled  and  glared,  as  he  told  the  gentlemen  from 
Ohio  how  far  they  were  from  doing  their  duty  now,  and  how  kindly  he 
felt  toward  them,  and  how  they  would  have  to  take  position  yet  upon 
the  high  ground  of  the  South,  or  it  would  be  all  in  vain  that  they  would 
atteaipt  to  arrest  the  march  of  Black  Republicanism.  For  the  present, 
they  must  go  their  ways,  and  the  South  must  go  her  ways.  He  declared, 
too,  with  piercing  emphasis,  that  in  less  than  sixty  days  there  would  be 
an  United  South  ;  and  at  this  declaration  there  was  the  most  enthusias- 
tic shouting  yet  heard  in  the  Convention.  The  South  Carolinians 
cheered  loud  and  long,  and  the  tempest  of  applause  made  the  circuit  of 
the  galleries  and  the  floor  several  times  before  it  subsided.  There  was 
a  large  number  of  ladies  present,  and  they  favored  the  secessionists  with 
their  sweetest  smiles,  and  with  nods  and  glances  of  approval,  a  delight- 
ed fluttering  of  fans  and  parasols,  and  even  occasional  clapping  of  hands. 

The  Alabamians  and  Mississippians  were  standing  in  the  aisles  and 
getting  away  from  their  seats,  and  as  the  spokesman  of  Mississippi  con- 
cluded what  he  had  to  say,  Alexander  Mouton  of  Louisiana,  and  Col. 
Simmons  of  South  Carolina — the  Louisianian  a  thickset,  gray-haired 
gentleman,  with  French  manners  and  accent ;  and  the  Carolinian  a  tall 
gentleman,  of  commanding  presence — were  claiming  the  floor,  each  to 
give  warning  that  his  State  was  going.  The  Louisianian  took  prece- 
dence, and  made  a  plain,  blunt  speech,  charging  upon  the  Northern 
Douglasites  a  disposition  to  shirk  and  to  dodge  under  ambiguities  which 
would  be  dishonorable. 


74 

He  dwelt  upon  the  platform  which  hatl  been  adopted  in  terms  of 
withcrinp;  contciiipt,  and  gaid  "that  was  not  the  way  to  fight  tlic  IJlack 
RcpublicaiiH."  lie  made  a  very  decided  imprcssiun,  and  called  down 
rapturous  applause  from  the  swarniiiifr  galli.Tics.  As  he  spoke  he  was 
facing  the  Oliio  d<  legation,  and  witliin  a  few  ft-et  of  tlieni.  and  seemed 
to  be  addressing  his  remarks  particularly  to  them.  ''Gov."  Payne 
turned  his  head  over  upon  his  left  shoulder,  and  once  or  twice  made  a 
sorrowful  effort  to  laugh,  that  would  have  brought  tears  to  the  eyes  of 
a  tender-hearted  and  sympathizing  friend,  it  was  so  hopeless  and  furlorn. 

Colonel  Simmons  of  South  Carolina  now  spoke  for  that  State  in  a 
quiet,  dignified  manner,  and  presented  the  reasons  for  the  withdrawal 
of  the  State  to  the  Convention.  The  secession  of  South  Carolina  drew 
down  another  tempest  of  approbation.  All  the  delegates  from  that 
State  (sixteen)  had  put  their  names  to  the  paper  with  the  exception  of 
three.  Several  of  them,  nearly  all  perhaps,  did  not  like  to  do  it,  but 
it  would  be  political  perdition  in  South  Carolina  to  those  who,  profess- 
ing to  represent  her,  should  fail  to  join  in  a  secession  movement.  Flor- 
ida was  the  next  to  go,  and  then  Arkansas.  In  the  delegation  of  the 
latter  State  there  had  been  a  dispute,  but  the  majority  were  for  going 
out.  And  so  they  did,  each  delegation  forbidding  unauthorized  persons 
to  fill  their  places.  Merritt  of  Illinois  now  obtained  the  floor,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  make  an  appeal.  He  wanted  to  try  the  effect  of  eloquence 
upon  the  secessionists.  He  was  becoming  very  red  in  the  face,  and 
was  almost  launching  away  into  the  empyrean,  when  he  was  cut  short 
by  several  delegates,  who  did  not  want  to  hear  eloquence,  and  the  chair- 
man of  the  Georgia  delegation  said  Georgia  wished  to  retire,  to  consult. 
Leave  was  granted — and  now  Virginia,  through  her  spokesman,  wanted 
time  for  consultation  also.  Georgia  and  Virginia  expressed  the  deepest 
sympathy  for  their  Southern  brethren.  Their  destiny  was  with  the 
South  forever.  The  Southern  feeling  ran  high,  and  it  seemed  that 
public  opinion  was  about  to  enforce,  as  the  test  of  loyalty  to  the  South, 
secession  from  the  Convention.  A  large  number  of  gentlemen  in  the 
hall  looked  absolutely  frightened.  They  considered  them.selves  looking 
upon  a  spectacle  of  prodigious  significance,  and  some  were  muttering 
with  white  lips  that  the  hour  of  revolution  was  at  hand.  And  there 
were  Neros  about,  too,  who  thought  the  whole  matter  an  extensive  joke, 
and  insisted  upon  calling  attention  to  the  ridiculous  points. 

In  the  course  of  the  disruption,  notice  was  given  that  all  who  sym- 
pathized with  the  movement  should  meet  at  St.  Andrew's  Hall  at  seven 
o'clock  in  the  evening. 

When  the  Convention  adjourned,  the  people  stood  in  groups  on  the 
corners,  and  even  in  the  middle  of  the  streets.  The  outside  pressure 
waa  for  the  seceders,  and  Southern  feeling  runs  high.  It  is  now  be- 
lieved that  nearly  the  whole  South  will  go  out,  and  that  there  may  be 
an  attempt  made  to  organize  two  "  National  Democratic  "  parties.  I 
presume  this  will  be  done.  The  Douglas  men  are  swearing  vengeance 
to-night  not  loud  but  deep,  and  the  North-western  States  say  they  will 
nominate  him  if  they  have  to  do  it  themselves. 


75 


THE    NIGHT  AFTER    THE    DISRUPTION. 

Charleston,  S.  C,  Tuesday,  Mny  1st. 
Last  night,  after  completinp;  a  letter  giving  an  account  of  the  explo- 
sion of  the  Convention,  I  walked  in  the  direction  of  the  Southern  mass 
meeting. 

The  night  was  beautiful  with  moonlight,  which  silvered  ihe  live  oaks 
along  fleeting  street,  and  made  the  plastered  fronts  of  the  old  houses 
gleam  like  marble.  The  hour  was  eleven,  and  a  stranger,  unacquainted 
with  the  condition  of  affairs,  would  not  bave  been  long  in  discovering 
that  there  was  something  extraordinary  afloat.  People  hurried  by, 
looking  excited  and  solicitous.  There  were  still  groups  about  the  cor- 
ners, and  the  conversations  were  full  of  animation.  Presently  I  heard 
a  band  of  music  and  the  shouts  of  a  multitude.  Hurrying  past  the 
Mills  House  and  Magnolia  Hall,  where  the  Douglasites  had  congregated 
in  the  days  of  their  glory,  but  which  now  looked  dark  and  deserted,  I 
soon  came  upon  a  street  full  of  people  in  front  of  the  Court  House, 
and  heard  a  thousand  throats  call  for  "Yancey!"  "Yancey!"  I 
was  just  too  late  to  hear  Lamar  of  Mississippi,  one  of  the  best  speakers 
in  the  South.  He  had  concluded  a  speech  of  an  hour  and  a  half,  in 
which  he  had  analyzed  the  record  of  Douglas  on  Squatter  Sovereignty, 
and  with  contemptuous  fury  spurned  the  pretension  that  Douglas  had 
been  consistent.  He  followed  Douglas  in  all  his  turnings  and  doublings 
remorselessly  as  the  hounds  follow  the  fox,  and  when  he  had  snapped 
him  at  last  in  the  fanged  jaws  of  his  logic  and  fact,  he  worried  him 
without  mercy. 

Mr.  Yancey  appeared,  and  was  proud  and  happy  to  see  the  South 
taking  so  proud  a  position  in  favor  of  her  constitutional  rights.  He 
spoke  of  the  seceding  delegates  as  about  to  form  the  "  Constitutional 
Democratic  Convention,"  and  the  delegates  who  remained,  as  compos- 
ing the  "  Rump  Convention."  He  said  this  Rijmp  Convention  would 
speedily  be  in  fact  a  Sectional  Convention,  and  would  represent  only  a 
faction  of  the  Free  Soil  sentiment  of  the  North.  He  said  the  South 
must  come  up  as  a  unit,  and  vindicate  its  constitutional  rights.  Every 
ultra  sentiment  was  applauded  with  mad  enthusiasm.  Yancey  said 
that,  perhaps  even  now,  the  pen  of  the  historian  was  nibbed  to  write 
the  story  of  a  new  Revolution.  At  this,  some  one  of  the  crowd  cried 
"three  cheers  for  the  Independent  Southern  Republic."  They  were 
given  with  a  will. 

Yancey  closed  by  saying  he  would  reserve  his  powers  for  such  service 
as  he  might  be  able  to  render  the  South  in  the  Constitutional  Demo- 
cratic Convention  which  would  meet  in  St.  Andrew's  Hall.  After  Yan- 
cey, Mr.  Hooker  of  Mississippi  spoke,  and  made  a  flaming  fire-eating 
harangue.  When  he  concluded,  the  music  and  crowd  proceeded 
to  the  Mercury  oflice,  and  called  out  Mr.  Rhett,  the  editor.  Thence  it 
moved  to  the  head-quarters  of  the  Louisiana  Convention,  and  heard  a 
couple  of  speeches,  which  were  received  with  enthusiasm.  The  next 
move  was  to  the  Mills  House,  where  Fernando  Wood  was  called  out, 
and  that  silver-tongued  and  smiling  gentleman  made  a  "  Constitution- 
al "  speech. 


78 

There  was  a  Fourth  of  July  feeling  in  Charleston  last  night, — a  ju- 
bilee. There  w:is  no  mistaking  the  public  sentiment  of  the  city.  It 
was  overwhelmingly  and  enthusiastically  in  favor  of  the  secedens.  In 
all  her  history  (Charleston  had  never  enjoyed  herself  so  hugely.  The 
Dougla«*  men  look  hadly  this  morning,  as  though  they  had  been  trou- 
bled during  the  night  with  bad  dreams.  S(»me  of  them  are  as  jolly  as 
Mark  Tapleys,  and  deserve  that  "credit  for  being  jolly  "  under  adverse 
circumstunees,  wliieh  distingui^-hed  that  philosojiher.  The  disruption  is 
too  serious  for  them.  They  would  have  been  happy  if  a  couple  of  Gulf 
States  had  gone  out  and  left  them  with  the  rest,  and  the  votes  tu  nomi- 
nate Douglas,  and  all  the  prestige  of  regularity.  But  they  see  now 
that  their  party  is  rent  ?s  Keitt  was  going  to  rend  the  Union,  "  from 
turret  to  foundation-stone." 

The  Douglasites  find  themselves  in  the  position  of  a  semi-Free  Soil, 
sectional  party,  and  the  poor  fellows  take  it  hard.  The  bitter  cup 
which  they  have  so  often  pressed  upon  the  Republicans  is  now  thrust 
upon  them.  They  are  denominated  by  the  ulrra-South  scetionalists, 
and  are  accused  of  cleaving  unto  heresies  as  bad  as  Seward  ism, — of 
being  Frank  Blair  Kepublicans  at  heart.  They  are  told,  too,  that  thej 
have  no  principles,  but  are  devoted  unto  death  to  a  man  and  the  spoils. 


EIGHTH    DAY 


Convention  opened  with  a  solemn  prayer  for  harmony.  Gen. 
Cushing  looked  troubled,  but  some  one  had  covered  his  de?k  with  flow- 
ers, and  he  regaled  himself  by  thrusting  his  pale  uose  iuto  the  red 
Toses. 

Busine.ss  commenced  ominously. 

Mr.  Benning  of  Georgia  announced  the  result  of  the  consultation  of 
that  State.  It  was  the  adoption,  by  a  majority  of  the  delegation,  uf  the 
following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  upon  the  openinp;  of  the  Convention  this  morning  our  chairman 
be  requi'stKl  to  state  to  the  I'rcsident  that  the  (leorgia  dele<;ali<>n,  ufliT  mature 
(lelibLTAtion.  have  I'tlt  it  to  be  their  duty,  under  existiu};  circumstauces,  not  to 
participate  rurth-.r  in  the  deliberations  of  the  Couveutiou,  and  that,  therefore, 
the  delegatiun  withdraw. 

Twenty-six  out  of  thirty-four  Georgia  delegates  then  retired  from  the 
ball. 

A  majority  of  the  Arkansas  delegation  announced  their  deliberate 
determination  formally  to  retire  ;  and  retired. 

The  Virginia,  Kentucky,  North  Carolina  and  Maryland  delegations 
retired  to  consult. 

Solomon  Cohen  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  who  remained  in  the  Convention, 
made  a  speech  ultra-Southern  in  tone.  But  he  could  not  then  leave  the 
Convention,  until  the  last  .straw  had  broken  the  camel's  back.  He 
was  with  the  soceders  in  sentiment,  and  they  were  earnest  in  action, 
and  would   be    united.      The   South  would  stand    together.      The  sub- 


77 

stance  of  his  speech  was  a  warning  to  the  Douglasites  not  to  put  Doug- 
las in  nomination  and  make  the  breach  irreconcilable. 

He  said:  "1  charge  my  Northern  friends — and  I  yet  love  to  call 
them  so — be  not  deceived.  The  feeling.s  which  have  prompted  me  to 
remain  in  this  Convention,  are,  I  trust,  high  and  holy.  I  am  prepared 
to  stay  here  in  the  hope — and  I  trust  in  God  it  may  not  prove  a  fruit- 
less one — that  the  spirit  of  our  ancestors,  that  the  spirit  of  brotherly 
love,  that  the  spirit  of  concord  and  patriotism,  which  hovered  over  those 
who  framed  the  Constitution  of  the  country,  may  hover  over  and  rest 
amongst  and  upon  us.  Be  not  deceived,  I  repeat,  for  in  heart  and  in 
principle  1  am  with  those  who  have  retired  from  the  Convention.  Yet 
I  have  deemed  it  my  duty  to  remain  among  you,  and  to  mingle  in  your 
deliberations,  with  the  hope  that  the  cup  of  conciliation  may  not  be 
drained  to  the  dregs. 

"  You  have  perhaps  supposed  that  the  South  are  not  in  earnest.  You 
have  perhaps  cause  for  the  supposition,  in  the  fact  that  a  portion  of  the 
delegation  remain  here  in  this  Convention,  that  Georgia  is  not  a  unit 
upon  this  question.  Gentlemen,  I  have  been  engaged  in  many  contro- 
versies in  two  States,  in  which  my  lot  has  been  cast  in  different  periods 
of  my  life  ;  and  the  only  question  that  has  ever  divided  the  people  of 
the  South,  as  far  as  I  have  seen,  is  simply  the  question  of  time. 

"  I  will  stay  here  until  the  last  feather  be  placed  upon  the  back  of 
the  camel — 1  will  stay  until  crushed  and  broken  in  spirit,  humiliated 
by  feeling  and  knowing  that  I  have  no  longer  a  voice  in  the  counsels  of 
'the  Democracy  of  the  Union — feeling  that  the  Southern  States  are  as  a 
mere  cipher  in  your  estimation — that  all  her  rights  are  trampled  under 
foot;  and  I  say  here  that  I  shall  then  be  found  shoulder  to  shoulder 
with  him  who  is  foremost  in  this  contest." 

All  of  which  was  understood  to  mean — never,  never  nominate  Doug- 
las, or  all  things  dire  will  happen. 

Maj.  Flournoy  then  begged  to  be  indulged  in  one  remark.  He  was 
opposed  to  giving  up  the  ship.      The  following  is  one  of  his  paragraphs  : 

"  Mr.  President,  I  am  a  Southern  man.  Yes,  sir,  I  have  been  reared 
amidst  the  institution.  All  I  have  is  the  product  of  slave  labor.  I 
believe  the  institution  a  patriarchal  one,  and  beneficial  alike  to  master 
and  slave.  The  bread  which  supports  my  own  wife  and  tender  babe, 
is  the  product  of  slave  labor.  I  trust  then  that,  like  Caspar's  wife,  I 
am  '  above  suspicion.'  " 

Mr.  Gaulden,  the  slave-trader  of  Savannah,  gave  his  rea.«ons  for  re- 
maining in  the  Convention  : 

He  was  a  slavery-extension,  slave-trade  man.  He  believed  the  insti- 
tution to  be  right,  socially,  politically,  morally  and  religiously.  He 
believed  that,  if  the  institution  of  slavery  were  to  be  aboli>hLd,  civiliza- 
tion would  go  back  two  hundred  years.  The  prohibition  of  the  slave- 
trade  had  put  an  end  to  all  hope  of  extending  the  area  of  slavery  at  the 
present  time.  There  was  but  one  remedy  at  present  for  the  evils  the 
South  complained  of,  and  that  was,  to  reopen  the  African  slave-trade. 
[Cheers  and  loud  laughter.]  In  this  he  looked  to  the  Nortliern  Democ- 
racy to  a'd  them.      [Renewed  laughter  and  cheers.] 

He  told  his  fellow-Democrats  that  the  African  slave-trade  man  is  the 


Tf 

Union  man — the  true  Christian  man.  He  told  thorn  that  the  slave- 
trade  of  Virginia  was  more  inhuman,  more  unchristian,  in  every  point 
of  view,  than  the  African  slave-trade  ;  for  the  African  !>lavc-tradcr  goes 
to  a  heathen  land,  and  brings  the  savage  here,  and  Christianizes  and 
moralizes  him,  and  sends  him  down  to  posterity  a  happy  man.  [Cheers 
and  loud  laughter.] 

Mr.  Reed  of  Indiana.     I  am  with  you.      I  favor  it. 

Mr.  Gaulden.  Good.  Then  he  would  put  him  down  for  one.  He 
declared  that  the  Virginia  slave-trader,  who  tore  a  slave  family  asunder 
from  those  ties  which  cluster  around  civilization,  whether  it  be  the  slave 
or  the  free  man,  was  far  more  open  to  rebuke  than  the  man  who  brought 
the  African  from  a  land  where  he  has  no  ties  of  country  or  family 
around  him- 

He  desired  not  to  be  discourteous  to  Virginia  ;  but,  with  all  deference 
to  the  State,  he  believed  they  were  influenced  more  than  they  ought  to 
be  by  the  almighty  dollar.  He  had  himself  purchased  some  slaves  in 
Virginia,  and  had  to  pay  from  one  thousand  to  twelve  hundred  dollars, 
while  he  could  buy  a  better  nigger  in  Africa  for  fifty  dollars.  [Loud 
laughter  and  great  applause.]  Now,  if  any  of  bis  friends  from  the 
North  would  go  down  to  his  plantation  in  Georgia — it  was  not  far  from 
here,  and  he  hoped  many  of  them  would — he  would  show  them  negroes 
he  had  purchased  in  Virginia,  in  Georgia,  in  Alabama,  in  Louisiana, 
and  he  would  also  show  them  the  native  African,  the  noblest  Roman  of 
them  all.  [Shouts  of  laughter  and  applause  repeated  round  after 
round.] 

The  applause  and  laughter  on  the  floor,  during  this  gentleman's 
speech,  were  overpowering.  He  was  in  deadly  earnest,  and  talked  with 
no  little  force  of  expression.  He  is  a  tall,  hatchet-fuecd  man,  with 
brown  complexion,  high  nose,  great  eyes,  thin,  straggling,  black  beard 
and  black  hair.  His  personal  appearance  is  much  like  that  of  Edger- 
ton,  M.  C,  of  Ohio. 

Mr.  McCook  of  Ohio  moved  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolution  : 

Itesolved,  That  this  Convention  will  proceed  at  2  P.  M.  of  this  day.  bv  a  call 
of  the  Staten,  to  nominate  a  caiididato  for  President,  and  immediauly  thereafter. 
t<)  notniuate  a  candidate  for  the  Vice-Pnsid^'iicy  of  the  United  Stalt-H. 

Mr.  Raflferty  of  New  Jersey,  on  the  part  of  his  delegation,  presented 
a  protest  against  the  vote  of  the  house,  overruling  the  decision  of  the 
chair,  on  the  controversy  respecting  the  casting  of  the  vote  of  that 
State. 

The  condition  of  affairs  here  and  now — Charleston,  May  1st,  twelve 
o'clock — is  as  follows  :  The  seceding  Southerners  are  just  calling  their 
Constitutional  Democratic  Convention  to  order,  at  St.  Andrew's  Hall. 
A  row  is  in  progress  in  this  hall  among  the  California  delegates.  At 
this  moment,  three  of  them  are  at  sword's  points,  bickering  as  to  what 
shall  be  done  and  who  shall  speak  the  voice  of  the  State.  John  Coch- 
rane of  Now  York  is  anxious  to  make  a  speech.  Mr.  McCook  of  Ohio 
wants  to  force  a  motion  to  come  to  a  ballot  for  a  candidate  for  the  Pres- 
idency at  two  o'clock.  Half  a  dozen  Southern  delegations  are  out 
con.sulting,  trying  to  find  where  they  are  to  go. 


79 

One  of  the  Californians  obtains  full  possession  of  the  floor,  and  pro- 
ceeds to  pour  hot  shot  into  the  Popular  Sovereignty  camp.  He  charged 
those  who  had  supported  the  minority  platform,  with  truckling  to  Black 
Republicanism.  A  Connecticut  delegate  (Gallagher)  springs  up,  white 
with  rage,  and  black  hair  flying  in  his  eyes,  and  raises  a  question  of 
order,  that  the  gentleman  from  California  has  no  right  to  slander  the 
Democracy  of  Connecticut.  He  made  the  point  of  order,  too,  that  the 
Californiun  had  no  business  to  stand  up  and,  as  with  a  lash,  to  belather 
the  men  of  the  North. 

California  has  great  happiness  in  finding  that  the  cap  fits  the  gentle- 
man from  Connecticut.  He  proceeds  to  say  that  the  South  has  been 
maltreated  in  the  confederacy,  and  says  that  if  the  aggressions  of  the 
North  continue,  and  the  Union  should  be  dissolved,  the  Pacific  States 
have,  thank  Grod,  the  domain  upon  which  to  build  up  a  splendid  empire 
of  their  own.  He  concludes  by  grossly  insulting  a  gentleman  fiom 
Missouri.  This  Californian  seems  eager  to  vary  the  exercises  by  a 
fight.  He  looks  and  talks  as  if  nothing  would  agree  with  his  stomach 
so  well  as  a  bowie-knife  encounter.  The  insulted  Missourian  proceeds 
to  make  a  speech.  He  would  not  sit  in  a  Convention  where  his  motives 
were  called  in  question.  The  chair  had  not  heard  the  insult,  or  he 
would  have  called  the  Californian  to  order.  Missouri  proceeded  to  give 
forth  a  doleful  sound  about  the  disrupted  Democracy.  His  lamentations 
were  grievous  as  those  of  Jeremiah,  but  n3t  so  eloquent  or  poetic.  A. 
tall,  black-bearded,  ferocious  looking  Californian  gets  up,  and  makes 
the  most  amiable  speech  ever  heard,  rebuking,  in  the  mildest  and  kindest 
terms,  his  ill-mannered  and  insolent  colleague.  McCook  of  Ohio  jumps 
up  and  wants  to  press  a  vote  on  the  Presidency.  John  Cochrane  wants 
to  speak  ;  but  objections  are  raised,  and  John  cant  speak.  Seward  of 
Georgia  wants  to  explain  his  position.  After  a  while,  ho  obtains  unan- 
imous consent  to  go  on,  and  proceeds  to  toll  what  he  thought  of  the  un- 
derstanding between  the  North  and  South  in  the  Kansas  and  Nebraska 
fight — all  of  which  he  saw,  and  part  of  which  he  was,  as  a  member  of 
Congress  from  the  State  of  Georgia.  As  this  letter  closes,  Seward  is 
making  a  strong  popular  sovereignty  speech,  which  is  oil  upon  the  fev- 
erish wounds  of  the  poor  Northern  Democrats.  He  is  going  home  to 
Georgia  to  state  the  case  to  the  people  of  that  State.  And  now  a  North 
Carolinian  gets  up  and  encourages  the  Douglasites,  by  telling  them  he 
is  not  goin":  out. 

Mr.  Richardson  of  Illinois  tried  to  speak  comfortably  to  the  people. 

Mr.  Perry  of  South  Carolina,  one  of  the  fragments  that  remained, 
rose  to  speak,  and  was  greeted  by  a  storm  of  hisses  from  the  galleries. 
Mr.  Perry  begged  the  North,  making  the  appeal  in  the  most  earnest 
and  pathetic  manner,  simply  to  give  up  the  point  of  controvcr-sy.  He  as- 
sured the  Northerners  that  they  were  wrong,  and  should  give  up  for  the 
sake  of  harmony.  The  Charleston  Courier  reports  him  as  saying  :  He 
deeply  regretted  the  schisms  that  had  been  going  on.  He  represented, 
with  his  friend,  Col.  Boozer,  only  one  vote,  and  if  the  South  all  retired, 
it  would  be  folly  for  them  to  remain  ;  so  he  besought  the  Convention 
to  give  some  boon  to  the  South.  So  far  as  any  practicil  good  could  be 
accomplished,  it  was  a  mere  abstraction  ;  no  issue  could  arise  under  it, 


80 

for  no  slaveholder  would  go  into  Territories  unfit  for  slave  labor,  when 
it  was  t-uiK  to  become  a  free  Slate  u|juii  entering  the  IJnmn.  He  beg- 
ged the  Nurlh  to  cuuhider  thebe  things,  and  to  do  all  in  lis  power  to  heal 
the  unh;i|i|)}  ditrerences  that  had  arisen. 

Mr.  lloAard  of  Tennessee  had  been  instructed  to  ask  of  the  Con- 
vention the  reeognition  of  Congressional  piotection.  Tlie  gentleman 
from  Illinois  (Mr.  Kiehardson)  said  that  his  honor  and  nianhuod  forbid 
him  from  retreating  from  his  position.  Was  his  honor,  was  his  manhood, 
only  dej'eiident  upon  a  disregard  of  constitutional  rights?  He  read, 
on  the  part  of  Tennessee  and  ber  sister  Slate  of  Kentucky,  which  stood 
between  the  two  extremes  of  the  country,  the  following  resolution,  which 
he  believed  would  reunite  the  North  and  the  South,  and  was  the  ulti- 
matum of  the  South  : 

Jie-iolied.  That  all  the  citizciip  of  the  United  .States  have  an  equal  right  to  set- 
tle, with  tbeir  properly,  iu  iLe  Territurie.s  of  tiie  L'liilitl  rilates,  a.id  ttiut,  uuder 
the  diciMOiii-  ol  the  fcuprerae  Court  of  the  Unitud  Slates,  which  we  reco^'uize  as 
a  correct  e.\po>ilion  ol  the  Cou.^titution  of  the  L'lited  Stales,  ueithcr  Ihcir  rij;hts 
ol  person  nor  property  can  bo  destroyed  or  iiupaiicd  by  Coiigri.ssio.ial  or  Ter- 
ritorial legislation. 

He  also  presented  a  resolution,  declaring  that  on  the  ballot  fur  Pres- 
ident and  V  ice-l'resident,  no  person  should  be  declared  to  be  nomina- 
ted who  did  not  receive  two-thirds  of  all  the  votes  the  full  Convention 
Wa.s  entitled  to  cast. 

Mr.  Kiehardson  of  Illinois  took  the  floor,  when  the  chair  reminded 
him  that  the  debate  was  not  in  order. 

Mr.  liussell  of  Virginia  said  the  delegation  of  that  State  believed,  so 
far  as  the  phitfoim  is  concerned,  the  resolution  read  by  the  gentleman 
from  Tennessee  formed  a  reasonable  basis  for  a  union  of  ttie  North 
and  South.  It  afliinis  the  decision  in  the  Supreme  Court,  in  the  Died 
Scott  case,  and  goes  no  further.  So  far  as  the  second  losoluiion  was 
concerned,  relating  to  the  selection  of  a  candidate  for  the  Piesidencj, 
they  believed  that  if  the  selection  of  a  candidate  was  made,  national  in 
its  character,  the  South  would  support  them,  no  matter  what  the  action 
of  deleuates  might  be.  It  might  be  suspected  that  the  re.xolulion  was 
aimed  at  one  particular  candidate.  It  was  not  so.  Virginia  only  de- 
sired to  receive  tiie  nationality  of  the  nomination.  The  South  would 
only  be  repiesented"  negatively  in  the  choice,  for  her  absent  votes  could 
not  be  counted  in  the  aflBrmative  for  any  candidate.  The)  believed, 
too,  that  the  true  interpretation  of  the  rule  would  reiiuire  the  votes  of 
two-thirds  of  ihe  representation  to  nominate,  and  not  two  thirds  ol  those 
present,  alone.  Unless  the  resolution  he  offered  should  be  adopted,  he 
was  not  instructed  to  cast  the  vote  of  \'irginia  on  any  question  at  pres- 
ent in  this  Convention. 

Mr.  Howard  of  Tennessee  disclaimed,  any  intention  in  his  remarks  to 
be  threatening. 

Mr  Caldwell  of  Kentucky  ."^aid  :  When  the  delcga'ion  had  retired 
for  consultation,  and  had  declared  that  tiie  adoption  of  tiie  resolution 
read  by  the  gentleman  from  Tennessee,  would  be  acceptatile  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  would,  they  believe,  biing  back  those  who  hail  left  the  Con- 
vention, the  Kentucky  delegation  had  al.^o  taken  action  on  the  two-thirds 


rule,  and  had  decided  that  the  proper  construction  of  the  two-thirds  rule 
was,  that  it  required  two-thirds  of  the  vote  of  the  Electoral  College  to 
elect. 

A  motion  was  made  to  adjourn,  and  upon  it  the  vote  was  taken  by 
States. 

When  Georgia  was  called,  Mr.  Cohen,  of  that  State,  said  ten  dele- 
gates remained,  and  they  claimed  to  have  power  to  cast  the  vote  of  the 
State.  The  chair  decided  that  the  minority  had  no  right  to  cast  the  vote 
of  the  State. 

Mr.  Holden  of  Tennessee  appealed  from  the  decision  of  the  chair. 
He  said :  Whom  the  Gods  would  destroy  they  first  make  mad.  The 
decision  of  the  chair  is  most  suicidal  and  destructive.  It  destroyed  the 
rights  of  the  State. 

The  decision  of  the  chair  was  sustained — 148  ayes  to  100  nays. 

The  previous  question  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Howard  was  seconded. 
The  motion  to  adjourn,  on  which  the  vote  by  States  had  been  called, 
was  lost — 92  ayes  to  158  nays.  Convention,  after  skirmishing,  ad- 
journed until  5  o'clock  P.  M. 

AFTERNOON    SESSION. 

Mr.  Howard  rose  to  a  privileged  question,  and  moved  to  take  up  his 
resolution.     The  chair  said  it  was  not  a  privileged  question. 

Mr.  Howard.     Then  I  will  state  it  as  a  privileged  question. 

Mr.  Russell  of  Virginia  wished  to  state  that  the  decision  which  the 
chair  makes  on  this  question  now,  will  decide  whether  Virginia  will 
longer  partake  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention. 

Mr.  Howard  said  the  time  fixed  by  Mr.  McCook's  resolution  to  bal- 
lot for  a  candidate  for  President  had  long  since  passed,  and  that  the 
resolution  was  not,  therefore,  in  order.  The  chair  decided  that  the  time 
named  in  the  resolution  would  not  aflfect  its  passage. 

The  question,  shall  the  main  question  be  now  put,  was  then  put, 
and  the  motion  carried  by  the  following  vote : 

Slates.                                 Yeas.  Aays.         Slates.                            Teas.  Nays. 

Maine 5  3  Mississippi 0  0 

New  Ilarapsliire 5  0  Texas 0  0 

Vermont    5  0  Arkansas 1  0 

Massacliusetts 6  7  Missouri 4^  4i 

Rhode  Island 4  0  Tennessee 1  11 

Connecticut 3i  2^  Kentucky 0  12 

New  York 35  0  Ohio 23  0 

New  Jersey   7  0  Indiana 13  0 

Pennsylvania 9J^  IfiJ  Illinois 11  0 

Delaware 0  2  Michigan 6  0 

Maryland 3  5  Wisconsin    5  0 

Virijinia 0  1.5  Iowa 4  0 

North  Giirolina 0  10  Minnesota 2i  IJ 

South  Carolina 0  0  Califoruia 0  4 

Geor^^ia 0  0  Oregou 0  3 

Florida 0  0                                               

Alabama 0  0                                                  149  102 

Louisiana 0  0 

Mr.  Ludlow,  before  the  vote  of  New  York  was  cast,  inquired  of  the 
chair  if  he  understood  that  the  question  of  privilege  on  the  meaning 
6 


82 

and  effect  of  the  two-thirds  rale,  would  be  decided  before  the  question 
was  put  on  the  resolution. 

The  President.     It  will  be  so  decided. 

The  proposition  of  Mr.  Howard,  declaring  that  the  President  would 
not  declare  any  candidate  elected  who  did  not  receive  two-thirds  of  the 
vote  of  the  Electoral  College,  was  then  brought  forward  as  a  question 
of  privilege. 

Mr.  Howard  said  he  would  use  no  argument  to  enforce  this  on  the 
committee,  but  would  leave  it  at  once  to  a  decision  of  the  chair. 

The  chair  is  of  opinion  that  this  proposition  of  the  State  of  Tennes- 
see, involving  the  question  as  to  how  the  chair  will  decide  the  vote  on 
the  election  of  the  candidate  for  the  Presidency,  is  in  order. 

Mr.  Richardson.  On  that,  I  appeal  from  the  decision  of  the  chair, 
and  call  the  vote  by  States. 

After  some  discussion,  Mr.  Richardson  withdrew  his  appeal,  and 
moved  to  lay  the  resolution  of  the  gentleman  from  Tennessee  (Mr. 
Howard)  on  the  table. 

The  vote  was  taken  by  States,  and  the  motion  to  lay  on  the  table  lost : 

States.                                  You.  Nat/s.  State.'.                               I'eas.  yays. 

Maine 5  3         Mbsi6.^ippi  0  0 

New  Hampshire 5  0        Texa.s  0  0 

Vermont 5  0        Arkansas  0  1 

Massachusetts 4J  8^       Missouri  4i  4h 

Rhode  L-laad 4  O'       Tennesj^ee l'  ll' 

Couuecticut 3^  2J       Kentucky 0  12 

New  York 0  35        Ohio 23  0 

New  Jersey 1 J  5i      Indiana 13  0 

Pennsylvania 10  16i      Illinois 11  0 

Delaware 0  2        Michigan 6  0 

Maryland 2  6        Wisconsin 5  0 

Virginia 0  15        Iowa 4  0 

North  Carolina 0  10        Minnesota 2\  U 

South  Carolina 0  0        California O"  4" 

Georgia 0  0        Oregon 0  3 

Florida 0  0                                                

Alabama 0  0  IIU  141 

Louisiana 0  0 

The  question  then  being  on  Mr.  Howard's  resolution,  Mr.  Stuart  of 
Michigan  raised  the  point  of  order  that  the  effoct  of  the  resolution  was 
to  change  the  rule  of  the  Convention,  and  must  lie  over.  He  read  the 
rule,  which  was  that  "two-thirds  of  the  votes  given  "  should  be  neces- 
sary to  nominate.     He  declared  language  could  not  be  more  explicit. 

Mr.  Howard  said  a  case  in  point  had  arisen  in  1844,  when  the  New 
York  delegates  were  excluded  from  the  Convention.  The  decision  then 
was  that  it  required  two-thirds  of  the  electoral  vote  to  elect. 

The  President  said  the  rule  of  the  Convention  of  1852  was  in  sub- 
stance as  the  gentleman  had  stated.  It  was  true  a  rigid  construction  of 
the  rule  would  seem  to  be  that  it  alluded  to  the  votes  cast  on  the  ballot 
in  this  Convention.  But  the  words  are,  "  Two-thirds  of  the  votes  given 
in  this  Convention." 

The  gentleman  further  argues  the  inconvenience  that  would  arise 
from  the  voluntary  absence  of  one-third  of  the  Convention,  so  as  to 
prevent  a  nomination.  This  Convention  has  no  legal  authority — its  au- 
thority is  only  of  a  moral  character. 


83 

The  gentleman  tad  remarked  on  the  inconvenience  that  might  be  ex- 
perienced by  a  Convention  assuming  that  a  third  of  the  delegates  should 
withdraw  and  prevent  a  nomination ;  but  it  would  be  a  still  greater  in- 
convenience should  a  small  minority  of  a  Convention  be  enabled  to 
force  a  nomination  on  the  people  of  the  United  States.  The  nomina- 
tion of  a  Convention  is  only  a  recommendation  to  the  people  of  the 
country,  but  in  the  judgment  of  the  chair,  the  consideration  of  con- 
venience and  inconvenience  would,  if  taken  into  the  question  at  all,  re- 
quire that  the  act  of  the  Convention  should  be  the  act  of  all  the  States 
of  the  Union. 

The  chair  is  not  of  opinion  that  the  words  of  the  rule  apply  to  the 
votes  cast  for  the  candidate,  but  to  the  votes  that  are  cast  here,  in  this 
Convention,  or  two-thirds  of  all  the  votes  to  be  cast  by  the  Convention. 
So  the  chair  is  of  opinion  that  the  resolution  of  Mr.  Howard  of  Ten- 
nessee contemplates  no  change  or  modification  of  the  rules  of  the 
house.  Another  reason  is,  that  it  is  not  competent  for  the  chair  to 
construe  a  rule,  when  it  is  proposed  by  a  vote  of  the  house  to  decide 
its  construction.  The  effect  of  the  resolution  of  the  gentleman  from 
Tennessee,  if  adopted,  will  be  to  direct  the  President  that  in  the  votes 
to  be  cast  under  his  inspection,  he  shall  make  only  such  a  decision  as 
to  the-  nomination  as  the  resolution  dictates.  The  resolution  of  the 
gentleman  from  Tennessee  is,  therefore,  in  order. 

Mr.  Stuart  of  Michigan  trusted  that  it  was  not  necessary  for  him  to 
disclaim  any  discourtesy  to  the  chair,  when  he  appealed  from  this  de- 
cision, and  he  would  only  say  that  the  construction  of  the  chair,  that 
the  words  "  the  votes  given  here  "  were  meant  to  apply  to  all  the  votes 
cast  by  the  Convention,  could  never  receive  the  sanction  of  logic. 

Several  delegations  having  asked  leave  to  retire  for  consultation,  de- 
sired that  the  chair  would  state,  before  they  retired,  the  exact  position 
of  the  question. 

There  was  intense  excitement  and  great  confusion  in  the  hall. 

The  chair  explained  that  the  question  was  upon  the  appeal  from  the 
decision,  that  the  resolution  of  Mr.  Howard  did  not  change  the  rules, 
and  was,  therefore,  in  order. 

The  vote  was  announced  as  follows : 

States.                                 Yeas.  A^ays.          States.                            Teas.  Nays, 

Maiue ...   3  5  Mia«issippi 0  0 

New  Hampshire 1  4  Texas 0  0 

Vcrmoat 0  5  Arkansas 0  0 

Massachusetts 5i  Si  Missouri 4^  4A 

Rhode  Island O"  4  Tennes.see 11  I 

Gonuecticut 2^  3  Kentucky lU  1 

New  York 35  0  Ohio...*. o'  23 

New  Jersey 5^  l\  Indiana 0  13 

Penu.sylvania 17i  9J  Illinois 0  11 

Delaware 2  0  Michigan 0  6 

Maryland 6  2  Wisconsin 0  5 

Virginia 15  0  Iowa  0  4 

North  Carolina 10  0  Minnesota 1  2^ 

South  Carolina 1  0  California 4  0 

Georgia 0  0  Oregon 3  0 

Florida 0  0  

Alabama 0  0                                                    144  108 

Louisiana 0  0 


84 

Mr.  Stuart  moved  to  amend  the  resolution  by  adding:  And  that 
every  person  wbo  casts  a  vote  binds  himself  hereby  to  vote  for  the  can- 
didate nominated. 

Mr.  Howard.  I  ask  by  what  right  the  gentleman  makes  himself  a 
keeper  of  the  consciences  of  his  peers. 

Mr.  Butler  of  Massachusetts  raised  the  point  of  order  that  the 
amendment  was  not  germane  to  the  original  resolution.  He  moved  the 
previous  question. 

Mr.  Russell  of  Virginia  said  that  if  Virginia  remained  in  a  Conven- 
tion, her  honor  bound  her  to  abide  by  its  decisions.      [Applause.] 

After  further  discussion,  the  chair  decided  that  the  amendment  of 
Mr.  Stuart  was  nut  germane  to  the  original  resolution,  and  hence,  was 
not  in  order. 

The  previous  question  was  then  ordered,  and  the  vote  being  called 
by  States,  Mr.  Howard's  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  following  vote : 

Statex.                                 Teas.  Nays.  Stales.                             Yeas.  Xays. 

Maine 3  6        Misisiseippi 0  0 

New  Hampshire 0  5        Texas 0  0 

Vermont 0  5         Arkanwis 0  1 

Ma=;sachupetts 8^  4i      Missouri 2i  2i 

Rhode  Island 0  4        Tenncp^ec 11  1 

Connecticut 2^  ok      Kentucky 11  1 

New  York 35  0        Ohio 0  23 

New  Jersev 5i  li       Indiana 0  13 

Pennsylvania 17i  H      Illinois 0  11 

Delaware 2  0        Michigan 0  6 

Maryland C  2        Wisconsin 0  5 

Virginia 15  0         Iowa 0  4 

North  Carolina. 10  0         Minnesota 14  2k 

South  Carolina 1  0        California 4  0 

Geonria 0  0        Oregon 3  0 

Florida 0  0                                              

Alabama 0  0  141  112 

Louisiana 0  0 

Mr.  Bio-ler  moved  to  reconsider  the  vote  and  that  the  motion  be  laid 
on  the  table.  The  vote  of  New  York  was  decisive  on  this  question. 
Balloting  for  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  President  of  the  United 
States  was  now  in  order.  Mr.  King  of  Missouri  nominated  Stephen 
A.  Dou'^las.  Mr.  Caldwell  of  Kentucky  nominated  "  the  favorite  son 
and  incorruptible  statesman  of  Kentucky,"  James  Guthrie.  Mr.  Pat- 
rick of  California  nominated  Daniel  S.  Dickinson.  Mr.  Russell  of  Vir- 
ginia nominated  R.  M.  T.  Hunter.  Mr.  Ewing  of  Tennessee  nomi- 
nated An  Irew  Johnson.     Mr.  Stevens  of  Oregon  nominated  Joe  Lane. 

After  the  vote  of  New  York  had  decided  that  it  was  impossible  to 
nominate  Douglas,  she  proceeded,  the  roll  of  States  being  called,  to 
vote  lor  him  as  demurely  as  if  she  meant  it. 

The  first  ballot  for  the  nomination  of  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency, 
was  taken  about  dusk,  amid  the  most  profound  silence.  When  the 
name  of  Dou^^las  was  put  in  nomination,  a  feeble  yelp  went  up  from 
the  North-western  delegations.  It  was  not  hearty  and  strong,  but  thin 
and  spiritless.  There  was  no  hopefulness  in  it,  but  something  of  defi- 
ance. Ii  was  as  much  as  to  say.  "  Well,  if  we  can't  nominate  him,  you 
cannot  nominate  any  body  else." 


85 


The  spokesmen  of  the  North-'western  delegations  tried  to  make  their 
votes  for  Douglas  impressive,  but  it  was  a  failure.  Tbey  said  so  many 
votes  for  "Stephen  A.  Douglas,  of  Illinois,"  but  it  would  not  do. 
Tbey  were  overhung  now  by  a  cloud  of  South  Carolinians  in  the  gal- 
leries, and  the  cold  steel  of  the  new  construction  of  the  two-thirds  rule 
had  pierced  their  vitals.  The  North-western  delegations,  commencing 
with  Ohio,  had  always,  until  now,  produced  something  of  an  effect, 
voting  in  solid  column,  according  to  the  direction  on  the  Douglas  pro- 
gramme. But  McCook  of  Ohio  failed  to  give  any  rotundity  to  the 
vote,  "twenty-three  votes  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas."  Gavit  of  Indi- 
ana ripped  out  the  vote  of  that  State,  and  glared  round  with  the  air  of 
an  assassin.  He  looked  as  if  he  would  cut  any  man's  throat  who  had 
any  thing  to  say  against  that.  Richardson  of  Illinois  looked  as  if  at  a 
funeral,  and  gave  the  vote  of  Illinois  in  a  voice  like  the  sound  of  clods 
on  a  coffin.     The  followins  is  the 


FTEST   BALLOT. 


STATES. 

s 

Q 

i 

5 

a 

i 

5 

1-5 

DO 
*> 

a 

n 

2 

Maine 

5 
5 

5 
5^ 
4 
3J 
35" 

3 

7 
9 

k 
12 

2 

i 

4 

6 

3 

2 

5 

15 

9 

1 

i 

u 

3 
3 

New  Hampshire 

Vermont 

Massachusetts 

Rhode  Island 

Connecticut 

New  York 

New  Jersc'V 

Pennsvlvania 

9 

i 

1 

Delaware 

Maryland 

Virginia 

North   Carolina 

South    Carolina 

Georgia 

Florida 

Alabama 

Louisiana 

Mi.ssis.sippi 

Texas 

Ark  ansas 

I 

Missouri 

H 

Tennessee 

Kentuckv 

■' 

Ohio 

23 
13 
11 
6 
5 
4 
4 

Indiana  

Illinois 

Michigan 

Wiscoasin 

Iowa 

Minnesota     

■■ 

California 

Oregon 

•• 

Total 

145i 

•m' 

7 

42      12  1 

6 

1 

1 

1 

86 


RECOVl)   BALLOT. 

Douplax 147 

Hiint.r 4U 

(iutbrie 3<jj 

Jubiisoii   12 

Dickin.'-on 6ii 

Laue 6" 

Touci-y 2  J 

DaviR 1 ' 

THIKD  BAIXOT. 

Douglas 148i 

Guthrie 42' 

Hunter 3G 

Johnson 12 

Dickinson 6^ 

Lane 6 

Davis 1 

FOURTH    BALLOT. 

Douglaa 149 

Hunter 4U 

Guthrie 3lt 

Johnson 12* 

Lane 6 

Dickinson 5 

Davis 1 


8IXTU    BALLOT. 

I  Douglas 149i 

(Juthrie 39} 

,  Hunter 36 

I  Johnson 12 

I  Lune 7 

!  Dickinson 3 

I  Davis 1 

8BVKNTH    BALLOT. 

j  Douglas 150} 

I  Hunter 41 

I  Guthrie 38} 

j  Johnson 11 

I  Lane 6 

I  Dickinson 4 

Davis 1 

EIGHTH   BAU-OT. 

Douglas 150} 

Hunter 40} 

Guthrie 38} 

Johnson 11 

Lane 6 

Dickinson 4  } 

Davis 1 


FIFTH    BALLOT.  KIXTH   BALLOT 

Douglas 149}    Douglas 150 


Hunter 41 

Guthrie 37} 

Johnson 12 

Lane 6 

Dickinson 5 

Davis 1 


Guthrie 41} 

Hunter 33} 

Johnson 12 

Lane 6 

Davis 1} 

Dickinson 1 


While  the  roll  was  beine  called,  Mr.  Edgerton  of  Minnesota  desired 
to  have  his  vote  recorded  for  Johnson  of  Tennessee. 

The  question  was,  whether,  before  the  Convention  adjourne<l,  Doag- 
la.s  would  get  a  majority  of  the  Electoral  College.  He  crawled  up,  half 
a  vote  at  a  time,  until,  on  the  ninth  ballot,  he  reached  the  figure  152; 
but  before  the  vote  was  declared,  the  column  of  the  North-west  was 
broken.  Gorman  denied  Edgerton's  right  to  change  his  vote — chair 
recognized  Edgerton's  right  to  vote  as  he  pleased. 


TKNTH  BALLOT. 

Douglas 150i 

Giitlirie 3!U 

Hunter 39" 

Johnson 12 

Laue 5} 

DickiuBon 4 

Davis 1} 

ELKVENTH    nALIX)T. 

Douglas i:)OJ 

Guthrie 'M 

Hunter 38' 


Johnson 12 

Lane 6} 

Dickinson 4 

Davis 1} 

TWELFTH    BAI.LOT. 

Douglas 150 

Guthrie 39 

Hunter 38 

Johnson 12 

Lane 6} 

Dickinson 4 

Diivis 1} 


On  motion  of  Mr.  Richardson  of  Illinois,  the  Convention  then  ad- 
journed. 


87 

The  Douglas  men  were  very  despondent  after  this  day's  experience. 
The  delegates  generally  are  dispirited,  worried  out  by  the  long  wrangle, 
and  disgusted.  It  is  the  prevalent  impression  that  the  Democratic 
party  has  been  done  for.  Even  if  it  should  be  possible  to  patch  up  a 
superficial  reconciliation,  and  nominate  with  a  whole  Convention,  the 
nomination  would  be  worthless.  I  hear  it  stated  here  a  hundred  times 
a  day,  by  the  most  orthodox  Democrats  and  rampant  Southerners, 
"  William  H.  Seward  will  be  next  President  of  the  United  States." 
And  I  have  heard  this  remark  several  times  from  South  Carolinians : 
"  I'll  be  damned  if  I  don't  believe  Senator  Seward  would  make  a  good 
President."  The  fact  is,  there  is  a  large  class  to  whom  the  idea  of 
Douglas  is  absolutely  more  oflfensive  than  Seward. 

Our  North-western  friends  will  go  home  with  hatred  of  the  Democratic 
party,  as  it  has  appeared  here,  rankling  in  their  hearts.  As  Douglas 
will  not  be  the  nominee,  they  will  wish  to  see  the  nominee  defeated. 
Some  of  them  say,  openly  and  earnestly,  they  will  go  home  and  join  the 
Black  Republicans.  I  never  heard  Abolitionists  talk  more  uncharitably 
and  rancorously  of  the  people  of  the  South,  than  the  Douglas  men  here. 
Our  North-western  friends  use  language  about  the  South,  her  institu- 
tions, and  particularly  her  politicians,  that  is  not  fit  for  publication,  and 
my  scruples  in  that  respect  are  not  remarkably  tender.  A  good  many 
of  them  will  eventually  become  the  most  intolerant  Republican  parti- 
sans. Their  exasperation  and  bitterness  toward  the  South,  that  has 
insisted  upon  such  a  gross  repudiation  of  the  only  ground  upon  which 
they  could  stand  in  the  North,  can  hardly  be  described.  Many  of  them 
would  not  lift  a  finger  to  prevent  the  election  of  Seward  to  the  Presi- 
dency. They  say  they  do  not  care  a  d — n  where  the  South  goes,  or 
what  becomes  of  her.  They  say  "she  may  go  out  of  the  Convention 
into  hell,"  for  all  they  care.  I  know  it  will  be  asserted  that  this  is  a 
highly-colored  statement — but  it  certainly  is  not;  on  the  other  hand,  it 
is  mild.  There  will  be  no  fight  in  the  North-west  worth  thinking  about. 
The  Douglas  men  will  permit  the  election  to  go  by  default.  No  matter 
what  this  Convention  does  after  this  date,  the  Chicago  Convention  has 
all  the  cards  in  its  hands  to  win  the  next  Presidency  and  the  spoils  of 
the  Federal  Government. 

This  is  a  "  fixed  fact,"  as  the  honorable  President  of  this  Convention 
once  said.  By  the  way,  the  Douglas  men  are  desperately  bitter  on 
Caleb  Cushing.     They  call  him  all  manner  of  hard  names. 

People  are  fast  leaving  the  town.  Mr.  Douglas's  outside  pressure 
has  melted  away.  The  Charleston  disunionists  now  gloat  over  the 
pitiful  and  disgraceful  wrangling  that  occupies  the  attention  of  the  Con- 
vention. 


NINTH    DAY. 

MORNING    SESSION. 


Chakleston,  May  2,  1860 
Prior  to  the  opening  of  the   proceedings  to-day,   the   Boston  Brass 
Band,  accompanying  the  Boston  delegation,  appeared  in  the  gallery  and 


8« 


played  several  national  aire,  and  at  the  close  of  which.  Mr.  Flournoy  of 
Arkansas  proposed  three  cheers  for  the  Union,  wliieh  were  given. 

The  roll  of  States   was   called    for    the    thirteenth  ballot  (202  votes 
being  necessary  to  a  choice),  which  resulted  as  follows  : 


THIRTEKNTH    BAT,L0T. 

Douglas 149  J 

Guthrie 39| 

Lane 20 

Hunter 28J 

Johnson 12' 

Dickinsoa 1 

Davis 1^ 

FOURTEKNTH    BALLOT. 

Douglas 150 

Guthrie 41 

Dickinson i 

Hunter 27 

Johnson 12 

Lane 20^ 

Davis 1 

FIFTEENTH   BALLOT. 

Douglas 150 

Gnthrio 41^ 

Dickinson ^ 

Hunter 26i 

Johnson 12 

Lane 20i 

Davis 1 

SIXTEENTH   BALLOT. 

Douglas 150 

Guthrie 42 

Dickinson i  | 

Hunter 26    j 

Johnson 12    I 

Lane 20J  j 

Davis l'  ' 

I 

SKVENTEENTU    BALLOT.  j 

Douglas 150    ' 

Gutln-ie 42    ' 

DickiuBon i  i 

Hunter 26 

Johnson 12 

Lane 20i 

Davis 1 

EIOUTEENTU    BALLOT. 

Douglas 150 

Guthrie 41i 

Dickinson 1 


Hunter 26 

Johnson 12 

Lane 20i 

Davis 1 

KINETEENTH     BALLOT. 

Douglas 150 

Guthrie 4U 

Dickinson l' 

Hunter 26 

Johnson 12 

Lane 20J 

Davis 1 

TWENTIETH    BALLOT. 

Douglas 150 

Guthrie 42 

Dickinson ( 

Hunter 26 

Johnson 12 

Lane 20J 

Davis 1 

TWENTT-FIRST   BALLOT. 

Douglas 150J 

Guthrie 41i 

Dickinson | 

Hunter 26 

Johnson  12 

Lane 20J 

Davis 1 

TWENTT-SECOND   BALLOT. 

Douglas 150i 

Guthrie 4lJ 

Dickinson | 

llnnlir 26 

Johnson : . .  12 

Lane 20J 

Davis 1 

TWENTT-THIRD  BALLOT. 

Douglas 152J 

Guthrie 41A 

Dickinson | 

Hunter 25 

Johnson 12 

Lane 19J 

Davis 1 


Before  the  twenty-third  ballot  was  declared,  there  was  trouble  in  the 
Virginia  delegation.  One  of  the  votes  was  cast  for  Mr.  Douglas  by  the 
delegates  of  one  of  the  districts.  The  chairman  of  the  State  delegation 
was  oppo.^ed  to  this,  and  produced  the  instructions.  Gov.  Todd  of  Ohio 
(temporarily  in  the  chair),  ruled  that  the  Virginia  vote  could  be  cast 
for  Douglas,  in  spite  of  the  majority  of  the  delegation.  This  vote  gave 
Douglas  on  this  ballot  a  majority  of  the  Electoral  College  vote,  aud  his 


89 


friends  were  greatly  inspirited.  If  Gushing  had  been  in  the  chair,  the 
fractious  Virginians  would  have  been  ruled  under.  Gushing  rushed  in, 
out  of  breath,  just  after  the  vote  was  declared,  and  took  his  position 
■with  some  discomposure — an  extraordinary  thing  for  him. 


TWENTT-FOURTH   BALLOT. 

Donglas 151 J 

Guthrie 41^ 

Dickinson 1^ 

Hunter 25' 

Johnson 12 

Lane 19J 

Davis 1 

TWENTT-PIFTH  BALLOT. 

Douglas 151 J 

Guthrie 41 

Dickinson H 

Hunter 35" 

JohnsoQ 12 

Lane 9| 

Davis 1 

Iq  this  ballot  North  Carolina  changed 
her  tea  votes  from  Lane  to  Hunter. 

TWENTY-SIXTH   BALLOT. 

Douglas 151J 

Guthrie 41J 

Dickinson 12' 

Hunter 25 

Johnson 12 

Lane 9 

Davis 1 

When  North  Carolina  was  called  on 
this  ballot.  Mr.  Brown  of  North  Caro- 
lina said  :  "  North  Carolina  casts  her 
ten  votes  for  that  incorruptible  states- 
man and  pure  patriot,  Daniel  S.  Dick- 
inson of  New  York."     [Applause.] 


TWENTY-SEVENTH   BALLOT. 

Douglas 151^ 

Guthrie 42^ 

Dickinson 12 

Hunter 25 

Johnson 12 

Lane 8 

Davis 1 

TWENTY-EIGHTH   BALLOT. 

Douglas 151^ 

Guthrie 42 

Dickinson 12i 

Hunter 25' 

Johnson 12 

Lane 8 

Davis 1 

TWENTT-NIXTH    BALLOT. 

Douglas 151^ 

Guthrie 42 

Adjourned  until  5  o'clock. 


Dickinson 13 

Hunter 25 

Johnson 12 

Lane 7  J 

Davis 1 

THIRTIETH  BALLOT. 

Douglas 151| 

Guthrie 45 

Dickinson 13 

Hunter 25 

Johnson 11 

Lane 5J 

Davis. . .    1 

THIKTY-FIKST    BALLOT. 

Douglas 151J 

Gutiirie 47| 

Dickinson 3 

Hunter 32J 

Johnson 11 

Lane 5| 

Davis 1 

On  this  ballot  North  Carolina  cast 
her  vote  between  Hunter  and  Guthrie. 

THIRTY-SECOND  BALLOT. 

Douglas 152|^ 

Guthrie 47| 

Dickinson 3 

Hunter 22J 

Johnson 11 

Lane 14J 

Davis 1 

North  Carolina  in  this  ballot  cast  one 
vote  for  Douglas  again,  giving  him  a 
majority  of  the  entire  electoral  vote. 

THIRTY-THIRD  BALLOT. 

Douglas 152J 

Guthrie 47| 

Dickinson 3 

Hunter 22^ 

Johnson 11 

Lane 14| 

Davis 1 

THIRTY-FOURTH   BALLOT. 

Douglas 152J 

Guthrie 47J 

Dickinson 5 

Hunter 22J 

.Johnson 11 

Lane 12^ 

Davis 1 


90 


AFTERNOON    SESSION. 


THiKTY-FrrrH  n.vu.oT. 

Douelas 152 

Guthrie *. 47i 

DickinROD '.       4l 


Huntor 22 

Johiiwjn 12 

Lauf 13 

Davis 1 


Mr.  Gittings  of  Baltimore  moved  to  adjourn  to  that  city  on  the  first 
Monday  in  July.     Withdrew  his  motion. 


TIIIUTY-SIXTH    BALLOT. 

Douglas I.tU 

Guthrie   48" 

Dickinson 4J 


Hunter 22 

Johnson 12 

Lane 13 

Davis 1 


The  vote  of  Arkansas  having  been  cast  for  John  C.  Breckenridge  in 
this  ballot, 

Mr.  Beck  of  Kentucky  asked  that  the  vote  might  be  withdrawn.  On 
the  part  of  Mr.  Breckenridge,  he  desired  to  say,  that  it  was  not  the  de- 
sire of  that  gentleman  that  his  name  should  be  used  in  opposition  to  the 
distinguished  gentlemen  now  in  nomination.     The  vote  was  withdrawn. 

When  the  vote  was  announced, 

Mr.  Ewing  of  Tennessee  said  that  the  Tennessee  delegation  had  pre- 
sented a  name  for  the  nomination — Mr.  Johnson.  They  now  desired 
to  withdraw  that  name,  and  to  express  the  hope  that  a  nomination  might 
be  made.  Their  vote  on  the  next  ballot  was  cast  10^  for  Guthrie,  1 
for  Douglas,  and  ^  for  Johnson. 


TFTIRTY-SEVENTH    BALLOT. 

Donjjlas 15U 

Guthrie 64| 

Dickinson Si 

Hunter 16" 

Johnson 1  i 

Lane 12  J 

Davis 1 

THIRTT-EIOHTH    BAIXOT. 

Douglas 151i 

Guthrie 66" 

Dickinson 5^ 

Hunter 16 

Lane 13 

THIBTT-NTNTH    BALLOT. 

Douglas 15U 

Guthrie 66| 

Dickinson 5^ 

Hunter 16 

Lane 12J 

FORTIETH    BALLOT. 

Douglas 15U 

Guthrie CV>1 

Dickinson 5^ 

Hunter 16 

Lane 12J 

KOIITY-KIRST   BALLOT. 

Douglas 15U 

Guthrie 66 J 


Dickinson 5 

Hunter 16 

Lane 13 

FORTY-SECOND   BALLOT. 

Douglas 15  U 

Guthrie G6\ 

Dickinson 5 

Hunter 16 

Lane 13 

FORTY-THIRD   BAI.LOT. 

Douglas 15U 

Guthrie 65l 

Dickinson 5 

Hunter 16 

F..ane 13 

Davis  .      1 

FORTY-FOURTH   BALLOT. 

Douglapr 15U 

Guthrie 65{ 

Dickinson 5 

Hunter 16 

Lane 13 

Davis 1 

FORTY-FIFTH    BAU.OT. 

Douglas 15  U 

Guthrie 65 j 

Dickinson 5 

Hunter 16 

Lane 13 

Davis 1 


91 


FOETT-SIXTH    BALLCiT. 

Douglas 151i 

Guthrie 65i 

Dickinson 5 

Huuter 16 

Lane 13 

Davis 1 

forty-seventh'  ballot. 

Douglas 15U 

Guthrie 651 

Dickinson 5 

Hunter 16 

Lane 13 

Davis 1 

FORTY-EIGHTH   BALLOT. 

Douglas I5I5 

Guthrie 65^ 

Dickinson 6" 

Hunter 16 

Lane 13 

Davis 1 

FORTY-NINTH    BALLOT. 

Douglas 151^ 

Guthrie 59i 

Dickinson 4 

Hunter 16 

Lane 14 

Davis 1 

FIFTIETH   BALLOT. 

Douglas 15U 

Guthrie 65 5 

Dickinson 4 

Hunter 16 

Lane 14 

Davis 1 


FIFTY-FIRST   BALLOT. 

Douglas 151 J 

Guthrie 65| 

Dickinson 4' 

Hunter 16 

Lane 14 

Davis 1 

FIFTY-SECOND   BALLOT. 

Douglas 151  i 

Guthrie 65J 

Dickinson 4 

Hunter 16 

Lane 14 

Davis 1 

FIFTY-THIRD    BALLOT. 

Douglas 151^ 

Guthrie 65| 

Dickinson 4 

Hunter 16 

Lane 14 

Davis 1 

FIFTY-FODRTH   BALLOT. 

Douglas 151 J 

Guthrie 61 

Dickinson 16 

Hunter 20i| 

Lane 14 

Davis 1 

FIFTY-FIFTH    BALLOT. 

Douglas 151 J 

Guthrie 65| 

Dickinson 14 

Hunter 16 

Lane 14 

Davis 1 


Mr.  Gittings  said  it  was  no  use  voting  this  way  like  a  machine.  He 
moved  that  it  was  inexpedient  to  nominate  a  candidate.  There  were 
cries  that  his  motion  was  out  of  order.  He  said  :  I  want  to  see  if 
you'll  come  up  and  face  the  music.  I  mean  to  vote  against  it  myself, 
but  I  want  to  find  out  what  you're  going  to  do.  If  you'll  nominate 
Douglas  we  can  elect  him,  by  G — d  !     [Laughter  and  cheers.] 

The  President.     The  motion  is  not  in  order. 

Mr.  Gittings.  No,  of  course  not;  that's  the  way  we  are  prevented 
getting  a  vote  on  it. 


FIFTY-SIXTH   BALLOT. 

Douglas 15H 

Guthrie 65^ 

Dicki  nson 4 

Hunter 16 

Lane 14 

Davis 1 


FIFTY-SEVENTH   BALLOT. 

Douglas 151 J 

Guthrie 65^ 

Dickinson 4 

Hunter 16 

Lane 14 

Davis 1 


Laid 


Mr.  Gittings  moved  to  adjourn  till  the  1st  Monday  in  June 
on  the  table.     Adjourned. 

Mr.  Douglas's  friends  were  quite  nervous  after  getting  a  majority  vote 


92 

The  leaders  were  quite  fifigety.  Stuart  of  Michigan,  Richardson  of  Il- 
linois, Mi;C()ok  of  Ohio,  and  otheris,  bad  their  heads  together  at  inters 
vals,  and  were  evidently  proposing  to  do  somefhing  dtsperate.  Just 
before  the  Convention  adjourned,  Stuart  sought  the  floor  and  clearly  ob- 
tained it,  but  Mr.  Gushing  with  stony  face  looked  over  his  shoulder  and 
saw  "  the  gentleman  from  North  Carolina,  Mr.  Ashe,"  who  made  the 
motion  to  adjourn  until  five  o'clock,  which  was  carried,  by  declaration 
of  the  chair,  though  there  was  a  strong  negative  vote. 

The  New  York  vote  is  ready  to  be  cast  for  the  Tennessee  conciliatory 
resolution,  which  is  readily  a  mild  but  unmistakable  slave  code  resolu- 
tion. It  would  deaden  Douglas.  The  spectators  have  become  tired  of 
the  Convention.  The  galleries  are  no  longer  crowded,  and  it  is  hardly 
worth  while  to  keep  up  the  ceremony  of  presenting  tickets.  The  ladies* 
gallery  is  very  thin,  and  the  poor  creatures  look  down  into  the  hall, 
vainly  seeking  objects  of  interest. 

The  South  Carolina  delegates  who  remained  after  the  secession  have 
withdrawn.  They  were  loudly  his.sed  every  time  they  voted,  and  the 
expressions  of  public  disapprobation  were  so  strong  that  they  have  suc- 
cumbed. 

Developments  of  some  sort  are  expected  and  insisted  upon.  The 
outsiders  are  becoming  as  impatient  as  the  insiders.  The  whole  arrange- 
ment is  pretty  nearly  beyond  endurance.  There  is  little  hope  of  reach- 
ing any  conclusion  this  or  even  next  week.  It  is  very  clear  that  the 
Douglas  men  have  strength  enough  to  prevent  nomination  whether  they 
have  or  have  not  to  nominate.  His  friends  are  obstinate  and  are  be- 
coming more  embittered  every  hour.  There  are  some  who  hope  he  will 
cut  the  Gordian  knot  here  by  a  summary  telegraphic  despatch  peremptori- 
ly withdrawing  his  name.  But  his  friends  say  he  pron)ised  them  ia 
Washington  a  fortnight  since,  when  all  contingencies  were  being  con- 
sidered and  his  counsel  was  taken,  that  he  would  not  repeat  the  Cincin- 
nati despatch  under  any  contingency.  There  are  serious  propositions 
made  to  adjourn,  to  meet  in  New  York  or  Baltimore  in  June.  This 
would  seem,  however,  to  be  a  mere  hopeless  attempt  at  evasion  of  the 
present  interminable  difficulty.  The  only  substantive  thing,  thus  far, 
that  has  been  done  here  is  the  disrupiion  of  the  party. 


TENTH     DAY 


THE    CLOSINQ    SCENE. 

CirAnLESTt)N,  S.  C.  May  3d. 
The  Convention — or  rather  that  which  is  left  of  the  Convention,  the 
"Rump"  as  Yancey  culla  it — meets  this  morning  with  the  understand- 
ing that  it  is  to  adjourn  to  meet  in  Baltimore  early  in  June.  The 
North-western  delegates  are  said  to  be  in  favor  of  Baltimore,  on  the 
third  Monday  in  June.  This  is  in  sheer  desperation.  The  Dnuglas 
men  ex|»ect  to  have  "  soft  "  Conventions  held  in  the  cotton  States, 
which  will  send  up  to  the  Convention   two  representatives  favorable  to 


93 

the  Little  Giant,  They  are  against  a  "  new  deal "  in  the  Northern 
States,  and  holding  what  they  have,  will  grab  what  they  can.  There 
will  be  two  Conventions,  the  Squatter  Sovereignty  one  at  Baltimore, 
and  the  Constitutional  one,  which  will  assemble  at  the  call  of  the  cotton 
States. 

The  Convention  opens  with  prayer.  Mr.  Russell  of  Virginia  ob- 
tained the  floor,  to  make  an  explanation  relative  to  the  position  of  the  dele- 
gation of  his  State,  on  the  resolution  offered  by  Mr.  Howard  of  Ten- 
nessee, which  bad  been  printed  erroneously  in  the  papers.  The  Mer- 
cury, of  this  morning,  contained  an  article  denouncing  the  resolution  as 
no  better  than  squatter  sovereignty.  The  editor  had  been  under  a  mis- 
apprehension as  to  the  strength  of  the  resolution  ;  the  resolution  assert- 
ed that  the  right  of  property  in  slaves  in  the  Territories  could  not  be 
destroyed  or  impaired  bj'^  Congress  or  a  Territorial  Legislature.  The 
editor  of  the  Mercury  had  omitted  the  words,  "or  impaired."  Mr. 
Russell  of  Virginia  stated  that  it  had  been  ascertained  that  there  waa 
strength  enough  in  the  Convention  to  pass  this  resolution  whenever  it 
came  up.     This  is  known  to  be  a  fact. 

The  language  of  Mr.  Russell  was  : 

All  the  Southern  States,  he  believed,  had  agreed  on  this,  and  he  un- 
derstood the  State  of  New  York  had  given  her  assent  to  its  adoption. 
He  now  oflFered  the  following  : 

Resolved.  That  when  this  Convention  adjourns  to-day.  it  adjourn  to  reassemble 
at  Baltimore,  Md..  on  Monday,  the  18th  day  of  June,  and  that  it  be  respectfully 
recomnnended  to  the  Democratic  party  of  the  several  Slates  to  make  provision 
for  supplying  all  vacancies  in  their  respective  delegations  to  this  Couventioa 
when  it  shall  reassemble.     [Applause.] 

[A  dispute  has  arisen  about  the  wording  of  this  resolution — a  pam- 
phlet copy  of  the  proceedings  at  Charleston  having  been  published  in 
Washington,  in  which  the  resolution  reads: 

Resolved.  That  when  this  Convention  adjourns  to  day,  it  adjourn  to  meet  in 
Baltimore  on  the  18th  day  of  June,  in  order  to  aflbrd  the  States  that  are  not 
now  represented  an  opportunity  to  till  up  their  delegations. 

Senator  Mason  of  Virginia  considered  this  matter  of  sufficient  im- 
portance to  address  a  card  to  the  Washington  Constitution  concerning  it. 
Mr.  Mason  quotes  the  two  forms  of  the  resolution,  and  says  of  that 
first  above,  which  I  take  from  the  file  of  the  Charleston  Courier  : 

The  above  is  a  copy  taken  by  me  from  the  resolution  in  Mr.  Russell's 
possession,  which  he  brought  with  him  from  Charleston. 

The  marked  difference  between  the  two  will  strike  the  reader  at  once. 
As  printed  in  the  pamphlet,  it  is  addressed  only  to  "  States  that  are  not 
now  represented,"  imputing  that  there  were  States,  in  the  judgment  of 
the  Convention,  not  tlien  represented  in  the  Convention  ;  thus  seeming 
to  imply  that  the  seats  of  the  delegations  of  those  States  who  had  with- 
drawn were  then  vacant. 

In  the  resolution  really  presented  and  adopted,  a  recommendation  is 
addressed  "  to  the  Democratic  party  of  the  several  States  to  make  pro- 
vision for  supplying  all  vacancies  in  their  respective  delegations  when 
it  shall  reassemble."] 


94 

The  rules  were  quickly  suspended  to  allow  Mr.  Russell's  resolution 
to  h>i  considered. 

Then  there  was  an  amendment  made  to  strike  out  Baltimore  and  in- 
sert Philadelphia.  There  was  moved  an  amendment  to  the  amendment, 
to  strike  out  Philadelphia  and  insert  New  York.  Ponding  these  amend- 
ments there  were  several  very  funny  scenes,  which  would  have  been  ex- 
citing, if  the  Convention  had  not  become  an  inconsequential  mob. 

Randall  of  Pennsylvania  several  times  jumped  up  with  his  gnarled 
gray  head  and  comically  severe  expression,  and  attempted  to  put  some- 
thing before  the  house  with  which  he  was  swollen.  Several  malicious 
fellows,  to  tease  the  old  man,  raised  points  of  order  upon  him.  The 
old  gentleman  would  get  out  of  his  place,  close  up  to  the  chair,  to  put 
a  motion,  and  some  rascal  would  raise  the  point  upon  him,  that  be  was 
out  of  his  place.  CuL^hing  would  look  down  upon  him  with  a  queer 
pucker  at  the  corners  of  his  mouth — the  smile  of  a  lion  looking  kindly 
upon  a  sheep — and  would  slaughter  him  by  sustaining  the  point  of 
order  and  sending  him  back  to  his  place.  At  last  the  old  gentleman 
mounted  a  chair  in  his  place  and  screamed  at  the  chair,  and  was  recog- 
nized. The  Convention  was  in  great  good  humor  with  him,  and  gave 
him  a  vociferous  round  of  applause.  The  old  gentleman  moved  to  sub- 
stitute for  the  various  motions  before  the  house,  that  the  Convention 
meet  on  the  fourth  of  July,  in  Independence  Hall.  He  thought  a 
meeting  at  that  holy  time  and  place,  would  do  them  all  a  great  deal  of 
good. 

The  country  would  have  been  saved  at  once,  but  the  motion  was  out 
of  order. 

Mr.  Montgomery  of  Pennsylvania  was  desperately  anxious  to  address 
the  chair,  and  when  the  chair  recognized  somebody  else,  he  was  indig- 
nant, atid  declared  his  voice  (which  is  a  roarer)  too  weak,  and  his  form 
(which  is  a  whopper)  too  small,  for  the  one  to  be  seen  or  the  other  to 
be  heard  by  the  chair.  The  chair  arose  in  indignation  and  struck  the 
table  three  violent  blows  with  his  hammer,  which  he  would  evidently 
have  been  happy  to  bestow  upon  the  head  of  Montgomery.  He  then 
stated  the  case  to  Montgomery  in  the  most  explicit  terms. 

The  question  on  substituting  New  York  for  Baltimore,  was  lost  by  a 
viva  voce  vote  The  question  on  substituting  Philadelphia  for  Balti- 
more, was  lost  by  the  following  vote  : 

Yeas — Maine  3,  Massachusetts  10^,  Connecticut  1,  New  Jersey  7, 
Pennsylvania  2G^,  Delaware  2,  North  Carolina  4,  Missouri  4,  Ten- 
nessee 10^,  Kentucky  11^,  Minnesota  H,  California  1 — 88^. 

Nays — Maine  5,  New  Hampshire  5,  A'ermont  5,  Massachusetts  2^, 
Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  5,  New  York  35,  Maryland  8,  Vl.ginia 
15,  Nt)ith  Carolina  6,  Arkansas  1,  Missouri  5,  Tennessee  1^,  Ken- 
tucky 5,  Ohio  23,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11,  Michigan  G,  Wisconsin  5, 
Iowa  4,  Minnesota  2.1,  California  3,  Oregon  3 — IGG. 

The  original  resolution  was  then  carried  by  the  following  vote : 

Ykas — Maine  5,  New  Hampshire  5,  Vermont  5,  Massachusetts  10, 
Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  G,  New  York  35,  New  Jersey  2,  Ponn- 
bylvauia  23^,  Maryland  5,  Virginia  14^,  Arkansas  1,  Missouri  G,  Tea- 


95 

nessee  7,  Ohio  23,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11,  Michigan  6,  Wisconsin  5, 
Iowa  4,  Minnesota  4,  California  3 — 195. 

Nays — Maine  3,  Connecticut  3.  New  Jersey  5,  Pennsylvania  3, 
Maryland  3,  Virginia  I,  North  Carolina  14,  Missouri  3,  Tennessee  5, 
Kentucky  12 — 55. 

The  President.  The  chair,  before  putting  the  final  motion  to  ad- 
journ, requests  for  a  few  moments  the  attention  of  the  Convention. 

Order  being  restored,  the  President  said  : 

"  Gentlemen  of  the  Convention: — Allow  me,  before  putting  the 
question  of  adjournment,  to  address  to  you  a  parting  word. 

"  I  desire,  first,  to  say,  and,  in  saying  it,  to  bear  testinsony  to  your 
constituents  and  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  that,  considering 
the  numerousness  of  the  assembly,  the  important  interests  involved  in 
its  deliberations,  and  the  emotions  thus  naturally  awakened  in  your 
bosoms ;  considering  all  this,  I  say  your  sessions  have  been  distin- 
guished by  order,  by  freedom  from  personalities,  by  decorum  and  by 
observance  of  parliamentary  method  and  law.  In  the  competition  for 
the  floor,  in  the  zeal  of  gentlemen  to  promote  their  respective  opinions 
by  motions  or  objections  to  motions  in  the  lassitude  of  protracted  sit- 
tings, occasions  have  occurred  of  apparent,  but  only  apparent,  confu- 
sion. But  there  has  been  no  real  confusion,  no  deliberate  violation  of 
order.  I  am  better  able  than  any  other  person  to  speak  knowingly  on 
this  point,  and  to  speak  impartially,  and  I  say  it  with  pride  and  pleas- 
ure, as  a  thing  especially  proper  for  me  to  say  from  the  chair. 

"  I  desire  further  to  say  for  and  in  behalf  of  myself,  that  I  also  know, 
by  the  knowledge  of  my  own  heart  and  conscience,  that  in  the  midst  of 
circumstances  always  arduous,  and  in  some  respects  of  peculiar  embar- 
rassment, it  has  been  my  steady  purpose  and  constant  endeavor  to  dis- 
charge impartially  the  duties  of  the  chair.  If,  in  the  execution  of  these 
duties,  it  shall  have  happened  to  me  to  address  any  gentleman  abruptly, 
or  not  to  have  duly  recognized  him,  I  beg  pardon  of  him  and  of  the 
Convention. 

"  Finally,  permit  me  to  remind  you,  gentlemen,  that  not  merely  the 
fortunes  of  the  great  Constitutional  party  which  you  represent,  but  the 
fortunes  of  the  Constitution  also,  are  at  stake  on  the  acts  of  this  Con- 
vention. During  the  period  now  of  eighty-four  years,  we,  the  States  of 
this  Union,  have  been  associated  together  in  one  form  or  another,  for 
objects  of  domestic  order  and  foreign  security.  We  have  traversed 
side  by  side  the  wars  of  the  Revolution,  and  other  and  later  wars. 
Through  peace  and  war,  through  sunshine  and  storm,  we  have  held  our 
way  manfully  on,  until  we  have  come  to  be  the  Great  Republic.  Shall 
we  cease  to  be  such  ?  I  will  not  believe  it :  I  will  not  believe  that  the 
noble  work  of  our  fathers  is  to  be  shattered  into  fragments ;  this  great 
Republic  to  be  but  a  name,  a  history  of  a  mighty  people  once  existing, 
but  existing  no  longer  save  as  a  shadowy  memory,  or  as  a  monumental 
ruin  by  the  side  of  the  pathway  of  time  !  I  fondly  trust  that  we  shall 
continue  to  march  on  forever — the  hope  of  nations,  as  well  in  the  Old 
World  as  in  the  New — like  the  bright  orbs  of  the  firmament,  which  roll 
on  without  rest,  because  bound  for  eternity ;  without  haste,  because  pre- 


96 

destined  for  eternity;  so  may  it  be  with  this  glorious  Confederation  of 
States. 

"  I  pray  you,  therefore,  gentlemen,  in  your  return  to  your  constitu- 
ents ami  to  the  bosoms  of  your  families,  to  take  with  you  as  your  guid- 
ing thouglit  the  sentiment  of  the  Constitution  and  the  Union.  And 
with  this,  I  cordially  bid  you  farewell,  until  the  prescribed  reassembling 
of  the  Convention." 

The  address  was  received  with  loud  applause,  and  at  its  close  the 
President  declared  that  the  Convention  stood  atijourned  until  the  18th 
of  June,  then  to  meet  at  12  o'clock,  noon,  in  the  city  of  Baltimore. 

The  final  fall  of  the  hammer  was  the  signal  for  a  general  stampede, 
and  the  delegates  rushed  from  the  hall. 

The  moment  before  the  Convention  assumed  a  nebulous  appearance, 
a  Baltimurean  had  something  very  sweet  to  say  of  the  ho^p!talitie3 
of  the  Monumental  City.  The  los.s  of  interest  in  the  proceedings  of  this 
Convention  will  strikingly  appear  from  the  fact,  that  while  there  are  seats 
in  the  ladies'  gallery  for  at  least  four  hundred,  and  that  at  times  they  had 
not  only  filled  them,  but  appeared  on  the  floor  by  scores,  there  were 
but  seven  ladies  in  the  hall  when  the  adjournment  took  place. 

Public  opinion  has  for  some  days  been  divided  as  to  the  abilities  of 
Mr.  Cushing  as  a  presiding  officer.  He  is  accus-ed  of  being  too  elabo- 
rate, and  too  formal,  and  incupible  of  despatching  business.  But  it 
should  be  remembered  that  during  a  great  part  of  the  time  here,  his 
object  has  not  been  to  despatch  business,  but  to  procrastinate.  Certain- 
ly there  has  been  admirable  success  in  this.  It  must,  however,  be  said 
of  Mr.  Cushing  as  a  presiding  officer,  that  he  is  a  little  too  fond  of 
making  a  speech  in  deciding  a  point  of  order,  and  that  he  gi\'es  too 
many  reasons  for  a  ruling,  ^specially  where  it  is  tolerably  clear  that  he 
is  not  btrictly  impartial. 

Charleston,  S.  C,  May  3d  (evening). 

The  adjournment  of  the  Convention  has  been  followed  by  an  outrage- 
ous eagerness  to  get  home.  Yesterday  the  Northern  delegates  general- 
ly professed  the  most  amazir.g  capacities  for  endurance.  They  were 
ready  to  stay  here  any  length  of  time.  There  was  nothing  either  la 
their  families  or  their  business  to  call  them  home.  They  were  prepared 
to  brave  yellow  fever  or  any  other  form  of  pestilence.  They  were 
ready  to  defy  the  plague,  though  it  might  be  as  malignant  as  tradition 
says  it  was  in  other  countries.  To-day,  the  Convention  adjourned  at  a 
few  minutes  after  eleven,  and  there  was  a  little  more  than  an  hour  left 
before  the  principal  Northern  and  North-eastern  trains  took  their  depart- 
ure. The  rush  to  the  hotels,  and  the  calls  for  baggage  and  bills,  the 
hurried  cramming  of  carpet-bags,  valises  and  trunks,  the  headlong  races 
up  and  plunges  down  stairs,  the  yelling  after  coaches,  the  shaking  hands 
and  tak'ng  "  parting  drinks,"  made  up  a  scene  that  was  somewhat 
amazing  to  the  leisurely  people  of  Charleston.  Some  of  those  who 
were  yesterday  loudest  in  their  professions  of  willingness  to  spend  the 
summer  months  here,  made  the  most  reckless  despatch  in  getting  out  of 
town. 

Douglas  men   think  they  have  done  it  up  beautifully,  in  adjourning, 


97 

and  calling  for  new  representations  for  the  cotton  States.  But  the  path 
before  them  is  by  no  means  clear,  as  yet.  The  vote  of  New  York  ia 
the  pivot  on  which  things  turn,  and  it  is  uncertain  as  the  wind  at  a 
street-crossinof. 


THE  CONSTITUTIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


FIRST    DAY. 


Charleston,  S.  C,  May  1st. 

The  seceding  delegations  met,  in  the  first  place,  the  evening  after  the 
disruption  of  the  National  Convention,  at  St.  Andrew's  Hall,  where 
the  names  of  Secretaries  were  reported — Mayor  Wood  and  his  New 
York  delegation  also  registering  their  namus,  upon  the  invitation  of 
Mr.  Yancey. 

Pursuant  to  call,  the  seceding  delegates  met  at  Military  Hall,  Tues- 
day, May  1st,  at  12  M.  John  S.  Preston,  of  S.  C,  called  the  meet- 
ing to  order. 

The  following  number  of  delegates  were  found  to  be  enrolled  : 

From  Delaware,  2 ;  Virginia,  1 ;  South  Carolina,  14,  Georgia,  2  ; 
Florida,  6;  Alabama,  21;  Mississippi,  14;  Texas,  10;  Arkansas,  4; 
Missouri,  3 ;  New  York,  41. 

Other  delegates  proceeded  to  enroll  their  names. 

Mayor  Wood  &  Co.  withdrew,  because  "  the  New  York  delegation 
were  not  in  the  attitude  of  being  members  of  the  Convention  which  sat 
in  Institute  Hall. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  officers  of  the  Convention : 

FOR   PRESIDENT. 

JAMES  A.  BAYARD,  of  Delaware. 

FOR    VICE-PRESIDKNTS. 

James  Simons,  South  Carolina.  John  Milton,  Florida. 

I.  T.  Irwin,  Georgia.  Joiin  A.  Jordon.  ArkansaK. 

Robert  G.  Scott,  xilabama.  H.  R.  Runnels,  Te.xiis. 

James  Drano,  Mississippi.  'William  G.  Whitclcy,  Dolaware. 

Emile  LaSere,  Louisiana.  M.  W.  Fisher,  Virginia. 

For  Secketakiks— Thomas  P.  Ochiltree,  of  Texas ;  Franklin  Gaillard,  of 
South  Carolina;  N.  H.  R.  Dawson,  of  Alabama  ;  F.  W.  Iloiidley,  of  Arkansas; 
D.  D.  Withers,  of  Louisiana  ;  W.  H.  H.  Tison,  of  Mississippi. 

Mr.  Bayard,  in  taking  the  chair,  made  a  lengthy  speech. 
A  committee  on  Resolutions  was  appointed  as  follows : 
Delaware,  W.  G.  Whiteley ;  South  Carolina,  A.  A.  Allemong;  Geor- 
gia,  Henry  R.   Jackson  ;  Florida,   Charles  E.  Dyke  ;  Alabama,  John 

7 


98      <. 

Ervin  ;  Mississippi,  Ethan  Barksdale ;  Louisiana,  Robert  A.  Hunter; 
Arkansas,  W.  E.  Burrows  ;  Texas,  Fletcher  S.  Stoekdale. 

Mr.  Yancey  offered  the  following,  to  be  referred  to  the  committee  on 
Resolutions : 

Besolved.  That  drsirinp  to  base  its  action  entirely  upon  the  CunstitutioD,  tbie 
meeting  style  itself  the  Constitutional  Democracy. 

Kfiolved'  That  the  plattorm  adoptid  hy  the  Democratic  party  at  Cincinnati 
be  atfiiuied,  with  the  following  explanatory  renolutious  : 

[Those  of  the  majority  report  of  the  other  Convention.] 
Adjourned. 


SECOND    DAY. 


Cii.\Ri.ESTON-,  S.  C,  May  2d. 

Convention  met  in  the  theatre.  The  seats  in  the  dress  circle  were 
occupied  by  a  brilliant  array  of  beauty  and  fashion.  The  family  circle 
and  galleries  were  filled  with  spectators,  citizens  and  strangers.  The  pit 
had   been  reserved  for  the  delegates. 

In  correcting  the  journal,  INIr.  Walker  of  Alabama  moved  to  correct 
by  striking  cut  the  word  "  seceding  "  before  delegations,  and  inserting 
the  word  •'  retiring,"  so  as  to  make  it  read  retiring  dekgates. 

Mr.  Winston  suggested  the  word  "  withdraw."  The  word  •'  retiring" 
was  adopted. 

3Ir.  Burrows,  from  the  committee  on  Resolutions,  reported  a  series  of 
resolutions,  the  material  ones  of  which  were  : 

Resolved,  That  the  platform  adopted  by  the  Democratic  party  at  Cincinnati,  be 
affirmed,  with  the  following  explanatory  resolutions : 

First.  That  the  government  of  a  Territory  organized  by  an  act  of  Congress, 
ifi  provisional  and  temporary  ;  and  during  its  existence,  all  citizens  of  the  Unit- 
ed States  have  an  equal  rigiit  to  settle  with  their  property  in  the  Territory, 
without  their  rights  either  of  person  or  property  being  destroyed  or  impaired  by 
Congres-sional  or  Territorial  legislation. 

Second.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government,  in  all  its  departments, 
to  protect,  when  necessary,  the  rights  of  p'lsons  and  property  in  the  Territo- 
ries, and  wh>  rever  else  its  constitutional  autliority  extends. 

Third.  Tliat  wlien  the  settlers  in  a  Territory  having  an  adequate  population, 
form  a  State  Constitution  in  pursuance  of  law,  the  right  of  Sovereignty  com- 
mences, and,  being  consummated  l)y  admission  into  the  Union,  tliey  stand  on  an 
equal  footing  with  the  people  of  other  States  ;  and  the  State  tiius  organized 
ought  to  be  admitted  into  the  Federal  Union,  whether  its  constitution  prohibits 
or  recognizes  the  iustitutiou  of  slavery. 

Mr.  Yancey  said  :  I  think,  sir,  that  the  Convention  is  prepared  to 
act  now  on  the  platform.  That  is  all,  1  believe,  that  it  is  proposed  to 
act  on  until  another  contingency  arises,  to  wit,  the  nomination  of  a 
candidate  l)y  the  National  Democratic  Convention  in  session,  the  rump 
Democracy  or  rump  Democrats,  when  it  may  be  our  privilege  to  indorse 
the  nominee,  or  our  duty  to  proceed  to  make  a  nomination  according 
to  the  will  of  this  body. 

^Ir.  Jackson  of  Mi.ssissippi  was  not  in  favor  of  stopping  with  the 
adoption  of  a  platform.     He  said  :  This  is  no  time  to  pause  for  further 


99 

reflection.  But  I  am  not  prepareil  to  pause  simply  upon  a  platform  of 
principle.  To  pause  at  all  is,  in  my  judgment,  a  symptom  of  weakness. 
We  have  met  the  Demecracy  now  in  session.  We  bave  left  it  upon 
principle,  and  upon  principle  alone  will  I  ever  return  to  it.  [Applause.] 
Boldly,  Mr.  Chairman,  boldly  have  we  taken  our  position,  and  it  is  a 
position  of  positions.  Are  we  to  be  tempted  back  into  that  oru;aniza- 
tion  by  the  nomination  of  any  man.     [Cries  of  "  No  !  never  I  "] 

Mr.  Yancey  argued  that  that  was  simply  a  meeting  of  delegates  retir- 
ed from  another  Convention.  He  said  further  :  We  may  be  called  Dis 
union  Democrats.  We  are  not  disunionists.  We  have  put  nothin<y 
upon  the  record  to  justify  the  assertion  ;  yet  it  will  be  easy  to  attach  to 
the  name  the  weight  of  the  disunion  movement. 

After  a  long  discussion,  the  platform  was  unanimously  adopted.  A 
discussion  then  ensued  on  the  propriety  of  proceeding  to  nominate  candi- 
dates.    The  time  was  spent  in  speeches,  however. 


THIRD    DAY 


Charleston,  S.  C,  May  3d. 

After  some  discussion,  the  motion  of  Mr.  Jackson,  that  the  Conven- 
tion proceed  to  nominate  candidates,  was  withdrawn. 

Next  a  discussion  sprung  up  about  an  address  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States.  There  were  several  propositions  of  this  nature.  Judp-e 
Meek,  in  stating  the  facts  as  to  the  strength  of  the  different  branches 
of  the  Democracy  in  Alabama,  said : 

"They  [alluding  to  the  delegates  of  the  other  Convention,  which 
had  just  adjourned]  had  then  adjourned  to  meet  at  Baltimore  at  a 
future  day.  They  had  thus,  to  use  a  popular  phrase,  clinched  their  ac- 
tion, and  now  they  called  upon  the  South  to  send  new  delegates  to  the 
adjourned  Convention.  Alabama  would  never  be  represented  in  a 
Convention  so  formed,  founded  on  a  Squatter  Sovereignty  Platform. 
The  vote  in  the  Convention  that  elected  the  present  delegation  to  Charles- 
ton, stood  four  hundred  and  ninety-nine  to  twelve,  and  that  was  the 
strength  of  the  Douglas  Squatter  Sovereignty  doctrine  in  Alabama. 
Indeed,  out  of  this  twelve,  seven  were  in  fact  opposed  to  the  doctrine 
of  Squatter  Sovereignty.  Now,  what  the  present  Convention  had  really 
desired,  was  to  have  put  forward  a  great  historic  name,  that  would  have 
commanded  confidence  and  respect  all  over  the  Union — he  alluded  to 
Jefferson  Davis  of  Mississippi.  They  had  also,  he  might  say,  contem- 
plated putting  in  connection  with  that  name  the  name  of  the  honored 
gentleman  who  now  presided  over  their  deliberatiojis,  and  thus  have 
secured  a  ticket  sans  peiir,  sans  rejjroche.  But  any  definite  action 
now  was  deemed  inexpedient." 

It  was  decided,  finally,  not  to  address  the  country.  Mr.  Yancey 
disclaimed  disunionism  per  se.  Mr.  Jackson  of  Georgia  offered  a  res- 
olution, calling  for  a  Convention  at  Washington  City  on  the  second 
Monday  in  June.     Adjourned. 


100 


EVENING    SESSION. 

President  Bayard  made  a  speech,  retiring  from  the  Convention.  He 
made  a  strong  speech  for  the  Union. 

Judge  iVlcok  replied  to  Bayard.  lie  said  :  "  The  gentleman  said 
they  had  come  here  to  save  the  Union.  They  had  not — they  bad  come 
here  to  save  the  Constitution."     [Applause.] 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted,  and  the  Convention  adjourned  : 

iZftWrtrf.  Tliat  the  Democratic  party  of  the  United  Slate.s  who  are  in  favor  of 
the  platform  of  principle  recommenckd  hy  a  majority  of  Slates  in  the  Charleston 
Convention,  be  invited  to  send  delegates  to  a  Convention  to  be  held  in  Kieh- 
mond,  on  the  second  Monday  in  June  next;  and  that  the  basis  of  repreHentalion 
be  the  same  as  that  upon  which  the  States  have  been  represented  in  the  Charles- 
ton Convention. 

APPEARANCE    OP    THE    SECEDERs'    CONVENTION    IN    SESSION. 

Cfiaklestox.  S.  C.  May  3d. 
After  the  adjournment  of  the  National  Democratic  Convention,  I 
looked  in  upon  the  Seceders  in  their  theatre.  The  dress  circle  was 
den.'-cly  crowded  by  ladies.  You  see  at  once  the  patriotism  of  the 
Carolina  ladies  exemplified.  There  were  not  more  than  a  dozen  of  them 
to  witness  the  proceedings  of  the  Rump  Convention  this  morning,  and 
here  they  were  smiling  upon  the  "constitutional"  champions  of  the 
South  by  hundreds.  I  do  not  think  I  had  seen  the  Carolina  beauties. 
There  were  actually  plenty  of  beautiful  women  in  the  theatre  this 
morning,  and  it  has  been  a  customary  remark  during  the  sessions  of  the 
Convention  at  Institute  Hall,  that  female  beauty  was  a  scarce  article  in 
the  Carolinas,  so  far  as  appeared.  But  though  the  women  were  beau- 
tiful, they  had  not  the  peach-bloom  cheeks  and  May-cherry  lip.s  of  the 
Ohio  girls — no,  not  by  any  means.  Well,  the  principal  feature  of  the 
Convention  was  the  ladies.  The  "  performance,"  while  I  was  present, 
was  fair.  In  fact,  it  looked  very  like  a  play,  the  actors  having  not  only 
occupied  the  stage,  but  taken  possession  of  the  parquctte.  The  latter 
was  occupied  by  the  delegates,  and  no  impartial  spectator  could  have 
said,  that  the  representatives  of  the  cotton  States  there  assembled  were 
other  than  a  noble  set  of  men.  The  chevalier  Senator  Bayard  occupied 
the  chair,  and  sat  near  the  footlights — a  courtly  gentleman,  whose  ro- 
mantic ancestry  and  name,  as  well  as  his  long  curls,  and  fine  features, 
and  distinguished  air,  were  admirably  adapted  to  concentrate  the  gaze 
of  the  ladies.  The  stage  scene  which  was  on,  was  that  of  the  Borgia 
Palace.  Those  who  have  seen  the  play,  will  of  course  remember  the 
"bloods"  on  a  spree,  one  of  whom  struck  off  the  B,  leaving  orgia, 
whereupon  there  was  an  unnecessary  (as  always  occurred  to  me) 
amount  of  amu.sement  and  alarm  concerning  the  freak,  and  immoderate 
offonse  taken  at  it.  Well,  in  this  play  the  u  was  already  off — the  deed 
had  been  done.  As  I  first  looked  at  the  stage,  two  gigantic  policemen 
— Irishmen,  of  course — with  blue  frock-coats  and  brass  buttons,  and 
large  stars  on  their  breasts,  and  maces  eighteen  inches  long  in  their 
bands,  stalked  behind  the  President  and  Secretaries  and  Reporters,  and 
mysteriously  passed  beyond  u  side  scene. 


101 

They  seemed  to  be  the  heavy  villains,  procured  by  the  designing 
scoundrel  to  carry  off  the  virgin  in  the  case,  who  was  in  love  with  some- 
body else. 

The  real  play  was  going  on  in  the  pit.  Mr.  Burrows  of  Arkansas, 
a  black-haired,  black-eyed,  swarthy,  hook-nosed,  portly  gentleman,  had 
the  floor,  and  was  making  some  very  general  and  very  extreme  proposi- 
tion. His  idea — and  it  was  not  a  novel  one — of  being  a  bold  and 
original  man — is  to  be  as  ultra  as  possible — to  out-Herod  all  the  Herods 
of  his  party.  The  fundamental  article  of  his  faith,  just  now,  is  that 
Squatter  Sovereignty  is  a  great  deal  worse  than  the  rankest  sort  of 
Abolitionism — that  Douglas  is  ever  so  much  more  dangerous  to  the 
South  than  Seward,  and  that  the  Douglas  men  are  a  very  bad  type  of 
Abolitionists. 

Judge  Meek  of  Alabama  was  next  on  the  floor.  The  Judge  is  a 
gentleman  whose  height  is  variously  estimated  between  six  feet  four  and 
six  feet  eight  inches.  He  is  a  lofty  specimen,  at  any  rate,  and  a  very 
powerful  public  speaker.  I  do  not  mean  powerful  in  the  "able  and 
eloquent"  sense  in  which  it  has  been  used  in  Kentucky.  It  is  re- 
markable, that  in  the  speeches  of  the  extreme  Southern  men  in  this 
Convention,  we  have  not  had  any  of  that  peculiar  eloquence  which  we 
are  accustomed  to  call  "  Kentucky,"  because,  I  suppose,  it  is  a  bad 
imitation  of  the  style  of  Henry  Clay. 

Washington,  D.  C,  May  7th. 

The  evening  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Convention,  Charleston 
was  herself  again.  But  she  had  not  been  so  dreadfully  disturbed  as 
she  had  anticipated.  I  was  told  by  gentlemen  of  the  citj  that  they 
had  several  times  seen  greater  crowds  about  the  hotels  during  racing 
week.  The  Charlestonians  were  rather  inclined  to  say,  as  the  contem- 
porary of  Noah  remarked  of  the  deluge — not  much  of  a  shower  after 
all. 

We  left  Charleston  for  Washington  at  eleven  o'clock  of  the  night  of 
the  last  day  of  the  Convention.  The  train  was  an  enormous  one  for  a 
Southern  road,  but  would  have  been  a  trifling  affair  up  North.  There 
were  many  "distinguished"  passengers — there  being  about  an  equal 
number  of  United  States  Senators  and  keepers  of  Faro  tables,  the  lat- 
ter wearing  decidedly  the  most  costly  apparel,  having  made  the  most 
money  during  their  sojourn  in  the  Palmetto  City;  one  gambling  house 
realized  twenty-four  thousand  dollars  clear  profits,  I  am  told.  The 
moon  was  up  and  the  night  beautiful,  but  there  was  nothing  to  see 
from  the  windows  of  the  car  but  swamps  and  pine  forests ;  but  it  was 
the  ground  made  classic  by  Marion,  which  was  some  comfort.  The 
principal  features  in  the  journey  to  me  were  pine-trees  along  the  road, 
and  six  changes  of  cars. 

PRESIDENTIAL     CANDIDATES     IN     THE     SENATE DOUGLAS,     SEWAED     AND 

DAVIS. 

Washington,  D.  C,  May  8th. 

»*«*♦*# 

And  here,  coming  from  the  cloak  room  on  the  Democratic  side,  is  a 
queer  little  man,  canine  head   and  duck  legs — every  body  knows  the 


102 

Liftlp  Giant — he  looks  conscious  of  being  looked  at ;  and  he  is  pointed 
out  \>y  a  hundred  liamlt^,  as  he  makes  pretentious  strides  of  ahout 
eighteen  inches  each  toward  his  chair.  Two  or  three  of  his  admirers  in 
the  gallery  are  disposed  to  apjdaud,  but  jou  hear  merely  'he  rattle  of  a 
single  boot  heel.  He  shakes  bands  with  Clingnian  of  North  Carolina, 
and  chuckles  with  him  over  something  that  seems  to  be  highly  relif-hed 
on  both  sides.  The  Little  Giant  wears  his  black  hair  long,  but  it  is 
getting  thin,  and  is  not  the  great  tangled  mass  we  saw  on  his  neck  a 
ft'W  years  ago.  And,  0  Little  Giant  I  it  grows  gray  rapidly.  Now  be 
proccetls  to  twist  himself  down  in  his  chair  a.-?  far  as  possilile,  and  places 
his  feet  in  his  de.>«k ;  and  thus  his  admirers  in  the  gallery  look  upon  the 
prodigious  little  man,  squirming  flat  on  his  back.  He  don't  feel  very 
elastic  this  morning,  that  is  evident.  His  mouth  is  closed  up  as  if  he 
was  trying  to  bite  a  pin  in  two.  He  is  not  "all  brain,"  as  Senator 
Brown  says.  He  requires  a  large  vest — and  large  as  he  is  about  the 
chest,  his  waist  is  becoming  still  more  extensive.  But  he  ?ias  an  immense 
head — in  height,  and  breadth  and  depth — in  indications  of  solidity  and 
force,  you  cannot  find  its  equal  in  Washington.  There  is  power  under 
that  massive  brow,  and  resolution  in  that  grim  mouth;  no  doubt  at  all 
of  that.  After  he  has  fairly  stretched  himself  and  rolled  over  in  his 
chair,  like  the  trained  lion  in  his  cage,  he  becomes  fidgety,  and  clasps 
and  unclasps  his  stumpy  hands,  drums  with  his  white  fingers  on  the 
arms  of  his  chair,  rubs  his  nose,  places  bis  hands  affectionately  on 
Clingman's  knee,  and  seems  at  a  loss  for  occupation. 

And  now  an  individual  appears  on  the  other  side  of  the  House,  who 
at  first  sight  seems  to  be  rather  a  comical  person.  He  has  the  most 
singular  h(?ad  in  all  the  assortmtnt  before  you.  It  rises  above  the  ears 
like  a  dome,  and  louks  not  unlike  a  straw  stack  in  shape  and  color. 
His  nose — a  high,  sharp  beak — strikes  out  below  the  strawy  hair  that 
thatches  the  dome.  Can  you  imagine  a  jay-biid  with  a  sparrow-hawk's 
bill — the  high  tuft  of  feathers  towering  above  the  eyes — the  keen  book 
below?  There  is  a  quaintuess  in  that  high  head  and  high,  sharp  nose. 
You  are  anxious  about  the  forehead.  You  are  sure  that  must  be  a 
man  of  talent,  and  be  must  have  a  forehead.  But  to  save  you' 
you  cannot  tell  which  is  hair  and  which  is  forehead.  All  is  of 
the  same  parchment  hue.  You  seem  once  in  a  while  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  a  lofty  mountain  range  of  ideality,  etc.,  according  to 
the  map-;  of  the  phrenologists.  And  then  you  are  not  sure  but  it  is 
hair.  This  tall  and  peaked  and  pallid  head  is  perched  upon  a  body 
that  is  active  and  rehtle.>;.s.  It  moves  about  with  school-boy  elasticity. 
It  walks  with  a  slasliing  swagger.  It  strikes  off  with  a  rollicking  gait 
from  one  point  to  another,  and  is  in  and  out  of  the  chamber  by  turns. 
There  is  an  oddity  in  the  dress  in  harmony  with  the  general  queerness 
of  the  thing.  The  pantaloons  have  a  dingy  oaken  aj)penrance.  You 
would  not  be  surprised  to  sec  breeches  of  tliat  color  in  Oregon,  but  in 
the  Senate-chamber  they  are  without  a  parallel.  And  did  you  ever  see 
80  much  tail  to  a  frock-coat  in  your  life?  Hardly.  There  is  certainly 
a  grotesque  amount  of  coat  tail.  Now  after  making  the  round  of  the 
Republican  side  of  the  chamber  about  twice  in  ten  minutes  he  offers 
from   the  chair  (next   the  main   aisle  and   most  remote  from  the  Vice- 


103 

President's)  a  petition,  in  a  hoarse  croaking  voice  ;  and  when  the  Vice- 
President  recognizes  "The  Senator  from  New  York,"  there  is  a  stir  in 
the  galleries  and  a  general  stare  at  the  gentleman  with  the  top-knot  and 
beak  and  voice.  He  sits  down,  takes  a  pinch  of  snuff,  and  presently 
you  hear  a  vociferous  sneezing,  and  the  high-headed,  straw-thatched 
gentleman  is  engaged  upon  his  beak  with  a  yellow  silk  handkerchief. 
And  you  rememher  that  Seward  takes  snuff,  and  has  ruined  his  voice 
by  the  nasty  habit.  In  the  Republican  corner  of  the  Senate-chamber 
is  a  familiar  face  and  form — you  recognize  the  portly  person  and  mas- 
sive intellectual  developments,  the  thin  frizzly  hair  and  oval  brow  of 
Salmon  P.  Chase.  Next  him  is  Gov.  Dennison.  Seward  comes  up 
to  them  and  seems  to  be  guilty  of  some  good  thing,  for  they  laugh  vio- 
lently but  quietly,  and  Seward  rubs  his  oaken  breeches  with  his  hands 
and  then  gives  his  nose  a  tremendous  tweak  with  the  yellow  handker- 
chief. He  is  wonderfully  affable.  He  acts  as  though  he  would  kiss  a 
strange  baby.     Ah,  he  is  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency. 

The  crowd  has  filled  the  galleries  of  the  Senate-chamber,  expecting 
to  hear  Jeff.  Davis's  speech;  and  there  are  expectations  that  Douglas 
will  reply.  The  hands  of  the  Senate  clock  approach  the  points  indica- 
ting the  hour  of  one,  and  the  people  are  weary  of  the  monotonous  read- 
ing of  bills  and  petitions  by  title,  and  the  presentations  of  the  miscel- 
lany of  deliberative  bodies  in  audible  tones.  Ah !  here  he  comes. 
The  crowd  in  the  galleries  give  a  buzz  of  relief,  and  every  body  tells  his 
right  hand  man — "here  he  comes — that's  Jeff.  Davis."  And  can  it 
be  possible  that  he  proposes  to  make  a  speech  ?  You  are  surprised  to 
^ee  him  walking.  Why,  that  is  the  face  of  a  corpse,  the  form  of  a 
skeleton,  Look  at  the  haggard,  sunken,  weary  eye — the  thin  white 
wrinkled  lips  clasped  close  upon  the  teeth  in  anguish.  That  is  the 
mouth  of  a  brave  but  impatient  sufferer.  See  the  ghastly  white,  hollow, 
bitterly  puckered  cheek,  the  high,  sharp,  cheek  bone,  the  pale  brow 
full  of  fine  wrinkles,  the  grizzly  hair,  prematurely  gray ;  and  see  the 
thin,  bloodless,  bony,  nervous  hands  I  He  deposits  his  documents 
upon  his  desk,  and  sinks  into  his  chair  as  if  incapable  of  rising.  In  a 
few  minutes  the  Vice-President  gives  his  desk  a  blow  witb  his  ivory 
hammer,  calls  for  profound  order,  and  states  "that  the  Senator  from 
Mississippi"  has  the  floor.  Davis  rises  with  a  smile.  His  speech  was 
closely  reasoned,  and  his  words  were  well  chosen.  Once  in  a  while  he 
pleased  his  hearers  by  a  happy  period ;  but  it  was  painfully  evident  that 
he  was  ill. 


104 


THE  BALTIMORE  NATIONAL  CONSTITUTIONAL  UNION 
CONVENTION. 


LIST    OF    DELEGATES, 


[From  the  Secretary's  Roll.] 


PBSHSYLVAMIA. 

Senatorial  DeUgatt— Won  Joseph  R.  In- 
gersoU.  Gen.  Abraham  MarkUjr. 

Alternates— Col.  H.  .M.  Fuller,  Alfred  How- 
ell. 

Congressional  Districts— 'E.  P.  Molyneau, 
Charles  D.  Freeman,  Wm.  S.  Elder,  E.  Har- 
per Jeffries,  Wm.  H.  Slingluff,  Capt  Frank  ; 
Smith,  M.  Mundv,  Jno.  A.  Banks,  H  K.  Kil-  , 
liaB,  Henry  Keller,  Merritt  Abbott,  Col.  Jo-  I 
seph  Faiton,  J.  W.  Martein,  Edw.  Shippen,  ! 
E.  C.  Pechin,  J.  D.  Bayne,  John  A.  Ettinger,  | 

Thomas  Hayney,  Patten,  F.  W.  Gray-  i 

son,  J.  K.  McDonald,  Joseph  H.  Irwin,  Gen.  , 
Wm.   Shall,    A.    S.    Redstreake,    John  H. 
Hicks. 

Alternates— Sa.m'\  M.  Lee,  F.  S.  Alteraus, 
John  Slemer,  John  Bell  Robinson,  John  S. 
LitteU.  T.  W.  Woodward,  Wm.  Graeff,  H.  C. 
Fondersmith,  C.  C.  Lathrop,  Wm.  H.  Pierce, 
Wm.  HUlman,  C.  H.  Breisler.  Robert  M. 
McClure,  E.  P.  Borden,  Col.  W.  Lee,  Chas. 
Chad  wick. 

NEW  YORK. 

At  Large  —  Washington  Hunt,  Erastns 
Brooks,  B.  David  Noxen,  Jonas  C.  Hearts. 

Alternates— George  A.  Halsey,  John  S.  Van 
Rensalier. 

Districts— Aided  Doolon.  Thos.  R.  Webb, 
J.  DePeyster  Ogden,  Charles  Beck,  Horace 
H.  Day,  A.  M.  Bininger,  Frederick  A.  Tall- 
madge,  Clark  Peck,  Daniel  R.  St.  John,  Pe- 
ter Cantioe.  A.  K.  Chandler,  George  B.  War- 
ren, James  Kydd.  Clarence  Buck,  James  L. 
Smith,  Orville  Page,  Charles  B.  Freeman, 
Edwin  J.  Brown,  A.  W.  Northrup,  Aaron 
Mitchell,  Newton  B.  Lord,  R.  F.  Stevens. 
Frederick  C.  Wagner,  Jacob  P.  Faurotte, 
Chas.  Coryell,  Sam'l  J.  Wilkin,  D.  W.  Tom- 
Unson,  Erastus  S.  Mack,  G.  A.  Scroggs,  Jas. 
W.  Gerard,  Harle  Haikes. 

Alternates- iohn  P.  Dodge,  Alfred  Wat- 
kins,  Jonas  Bartlett,  William  J.  Bunce,  Har- 
rison Hall,  Wm.  H.  Falconer,  Wm.  T.  Jen- 
nings. John  C.  Ham,  Fenlon  Harbrouck.  O. 
B  Wheeler,  William  Duer,  Silas  Swain,  Ru- 
fus  Ripley,  W.  D.  Murphy,  Wm.  Burling, 
John  Leveridge,  Louis  Lillie,  Abel  Smith, 
Harvey  Smith,  Jon.  Munn,  W.  M.  Conkey, 
Daniel  L.  Couch.  Alfred  Wolkyn,  A.  G. 
Mynck,  Daniel  S.  Baker.  Anson  Spenser,  S. 
L.  Huggins,  H.  H.  Goff.  M.  F.  Robertson, 
John  H.  White,  John  F.  Morion,  L.  L.  Piatt. 

TENNES.SEB. 

W.  G.  Brownlow,  Bailey  Peyton,  John  S. 
Brien,  G.  A.  Henry,  W.  Brazleton,  Robert 
Craighead,  John  J.  Craig,  N.  S.  Brown,  Edw. 
H.  Ewing,  J.  W.  Richardson,  A.  J.  Donelson, 


W.  Homar,  O.  P.  Temple,  C.  F.  Trigg,  R. 
Brabson,  Joseph  Pickett,  Wm.  Hickerson, 
S.  H.  Combs,  Jordan  Stokes,  R.  S.  Northcott, 
A.  S.  Colzar,  Henry  Cooper,  L.  J.  Polk,  J.  C. 
Brown,  W.  P.  Kendrick,  Jos.  C.  Starke,  J.H. 
Callender,  Clay  Roberts,  Joseph  Barbien,  J. 
M.  Parker,  T.'  A.  R.  Nelson,  H.  Maynard, 
Wm.  Stokes,  Robt.  Hatton,  Jas.  M.  Quarles. 
Wm.  Etheridge,  P.  W.  Maxcey. 


Gen.  John  Wilson,  Chairman ;  Geo.  V. 
Byrd,  Josiah  Snow,  John  T.  Stuart.  Alfred 
Dutch,  D.  J.  Snow,  Alternate  ;  Eliphalet 
Wood ;  D.  W.  Ford,  Alternate. 


John  J.  Hayden,  R.  W.  Thompson,  James 
Montgomery,  Lewis  Howe.  J.  M.  Havron, 
Dennis  Gregg,  A.  H.  Davidson,  C.  W.  Prath- 
er,  W.  K.  Edwards,  John  P.  Early,  J.  M. 
Smith,  J.  W.  Dawson,  J.  A.  Bridgland,  Thos. 
B.  Long,  H.  M.  Gram,  Jas.  L.  Bradley. 

MISSOCRI. 

Delegates— Sol.  Smith,  William  F.  Switz- 
ler,  Edward  M.  Samuel,  John  P.  Bruce, 
Matthew  H.  Moore,  Thos.  A.  Harris,  John 
Scott,  Joseph  B.  Terry,  Adolphus  Masser. 

Alternates — J.  T.  Clements.  J.  E.  Banon, 
R.  H.  Porter,  J.  R.  Hammond,  J.  B.  Wil- 
liams. 

VIRGINIA. 

District  Delegates — Samuel  Watts,  Travis 
H.  Epes,  Wm.  Martin,  Edward  U.  Chnstian, 
Wm.  L.  Goggin,  Marmaduke  Johnson,  Geo. 
T.  Yerbv,  E.  T.  Tayloe,  Robert  E.  Scott.  N. 
B.  Meade,  A.  H.  H.Stuart,  James  Witherow, 
Wm.  J.  Dickinson,  George  W.  Summers, 
Waitman  T.  Willey. 

Alternates  —  Thom&s  L.  Pretlow,  Daniel 
Lyon,  George  Towns,  W.  W.  Henry,  Alex. 
Rives,  Peyton  G.  Coleman,  Robert  Saunders, 
George  W.  Lewis,  Henry  W.  Thomas,  Wm. 
Andrews,  Chas.  H.  Lewis,  Wm.  Copeland, 
Isaac  J  Leftwich,  Arthur  J.  Boreman,  James 
S.  Wheat. 


Senatorial  Delegat-s—Goy.  Allen  Trimble, 
Hon.  John  Scott  Harrison. 

Congressional  Districts— ti .  G.  Pendleton, 
Gilbert  Kennedy.  J.  R.  Nelson,  A.  J.  Thorp, 
N.  McBeth.  Dr.  J.  Way,  Jos.  N.  Snyder,  M." 
J.  N.  Clover,  H.  T.  Barnes,  C.  L  Garro,  Jas. 
H  Laws,  J.  T.  Hyatt,  Joel  Funk,  R.  R.  Sey- 
mour, R.  H.  Geary,  Jas.  H.  Emminger,  J.  M. 
Bushfield,  Amos  Glover. 


105 


MISSISSIPPI. 

Hon.  Wm.  L  Sharkey,  Hon.  J.  W.  C.  Wat- 
son, Col.  J.  M.  Patridge,  E.  F.  McGehee, 
Hick  Bell,  R.  H.  Rivers,  T.  B.  Mosely,  J.  K. 
Yerger,  Joseph  Regan,  W.  H.  Yasser,  A.  S. 
Mitchell. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Delegates — Hon.  Jos.  Grinnell,  Col.  James 
W.  Leva,  Hon.  Marshall  E-  Wilder,  Hon.  S. 
L.  Crocker,  Leverett  Salsto^tall,  Hon.  Geo 
S.  Hillard,  Benj.  L.  AUen,  Cql.  Winthrop 
Faulkner,  Jonathan  Johnson,  Wm  B.  May, 
Hon.  Luther  Y.  Bell,  Hon.  Abel  S.  Lewis, 
Henry  White. 

Alternates — Franklin  Weston,  N.  F.  Saf- 
ford,  J.  L.  Baker,  Hon.  D.  Warren. 

CONNECTICUT. 

Delegates  at  Large — Hon.  Jno.  A.  Rockwell, 
Hon.  Austin  Baldwin. 

Alternates— E.  M.  Shelton,  F.  H.  Whit- 
more. 

Districts — Hezekiah  Huntingdon,  Hon.  Ezra 
Clarke,  jr.,  H.  C.  Miles,  C.  R.  Alsopp.  C.  A. 
Lewis,  Henry  Burr,  C.  H.  Leeds,  D.  W. 
Pierce,  S.  H.  White,  Wait  M.  Eawley,  Wal- 
ter H.  Bacon,  Lyman  W.  Cole,  F.  F  Loomis, 
Hon.  J.  Dunham,  R.  E.  Hitchcock,  B.  A. 
Hawley. 

MAINE. 

S.  R.  Hanson,  Jos.  R.  Brozier,  Phineas 
Barnes,  Samuel  Taylor,  Geo.  E.  B.  Jackson, 
Sam'l  P.  Shaw,  Geo.  C.  Getchell,  Daniel  L. 
Choate. 

NEW  JERSEY. 

Senatorial  Delegates —  Hon.  Jos.  F.  Ran- 
dolph, Hon.  Jas.  Bishop. 

AUertiates—Dr.  Chas.  G.  McChesney,  Eli- 
sha  Day. 

Delegates— Jesse  E.  Pe>'ton,  Col.  J.  W.  Al- 
len, Hon.  Peter  J.  Clark,  Samuel  G.  A.  Yan 
Lain,  James  A.  Williamson. 

Alternates — Geo.  M.  Robertson,  Jacob  Her- 
bert, Hon.  Abraham  V.  Schenck,  A.  W.  Coul- 
ter, Peter  S.  Duryea. 

VERMONT. 

At  Large — John  Wheeler. 

Alternate!)  —  R.  McKinley  Ormsby,  E.  J, 
Phelps,  A.  Stebbins. 

Congressional  Districts  —  J.  M.  Knox,  M. 
Cottriil,  Daniel  Tilden. 

Alternates — Ab.  Brown,  Andrew  Tracey, 
Jewitt. 


ARKANSAS. 

C.  C.  Danly,  Q.  K.  Underwood,  Jno.  Brad- 
ley. 
Alternate — J.  B.  Eeatts. 

GEORGIA. 

R.  A.  T.  Ridley,  Hon.  Joshua  Hill,  Hon. 
Thomas  Hardeman,  jr.,  H  Hopkins,  J.  A.  L. 
Lee,  James  M.  Calhoun,  George  W.  Adair, 
J.  R.  Parrott,  Thomas  W.  Walker,  Isaiah 
Fairview,  Z.  H.  Clark,  Williard  Boynton. 

DELAWARE. 

William  Temple,  Jos.  P.  Comegys,  Jas.  R. 
Loffland,  Chas.  CuUen,  Wm.  Elegood,  Laban 
L.  Lyons,  J.  M.  Barr,  H.  P.  Blandy,  Geo.  W. 
Karsner. 

Alternates— K.  Stockley,  Thomas  Wallace, 
John  M.  Denning,  Manlove  Hays,  Wm.  Loff- 
land, Wm.  Wilson,  L.  G.  Gooch,  Dr.  J.  F. 
Wilson,  Reese  G.  Wolf,  Henry  F.  Fookes. 

KENTUCKY. 

State  at  Large — Leslie  Coombs,  Laban  T. 
Moore,  Gibson  Mallory,  James  S.  Jackson. 

Districts  —  J.  D.  M.  Goodwin,  Benjamin 
Berry,  F.  M.  Bristow,  S.  G.  Suddarth,  B.  B. 
Thompson,  C.  F.  Burnham,  John  Barbee,  J. 
K.  Goodloe,  Wm.  R.  Duncan,  John  W.  Fin- 
nell. 

Alternates— 1^0%.  A.  Duke,  S.  G.  Rhea, 
Blanton  Duncan,  A.  H.  Sneed.  G.  W.  Fore- 
man, D.  A.  Sayre,  W.  C.  Whittaker,  S.  F. 
Gano,  J.  J.  Miller,  Samuel  Davis. 

ALABAMA. 

N.  W.  Shelly,  Philip  Morgan,  J.  Q.  Dure. 

NORTH    CAROLINA. 

State  at  Large—Son-  John  M.  Morehead, 
Hon.  Richard  S.  Donnell,  Hon.  Nathaniel 
Bayden. 

Districts — David  A.  Barnes,  D.  D.  Ferebie, 
E.  W.  Jones,  Richard  H.  Smith,  Jos.  B. 
Cherry,  W.  H.  Clark,  John  H.  Haughton,  W. 
Foy,  Walter  Dunn,  Thomas  Sparrow,  E.  C. 
Yellowby,  Daniel  L.  Russell,  E.  J.  Hale, 
Giles  Leitch,  A.  N.  Waddell,  John  G.  Blue, 
R.  McNair,  Hon.  R.  B.  Gilliam,  Wm.  H.  Har- 
rison, Hon.  E.  G.  Reade,  John  Manning,  John 
M.  Cloud,  R.  W.  Wharton,  Hon.  J.  M.  Leach, 
T.  C.  Ham,  Thos.  S.  Ashe,  Rufus  Barringer, 
S.  H.  Walkup,  Todd  R.  Caldwell,  Wm.  M. 
Shipp,  A.  S.  Merrimon. 


A.  Banning  Norton,  A.  M.  Gentry,  B.  H. 
Epperson, Evans. 


FIRST   DAY. 

Baltimore,  May  9tli. 
The  hotels  were  filled  up  last  night  by  the  delegates  and  outsiders  in 
attendance  upon  this  Convention.  There  were  crowds  of  good  looking 
gentlemen,  talking  of  the  prospect  of  redeeming  the  country.  The 
candidates  under  consideration  are  Botts  of  Virginia,  Houston  of  Texas, 
Bell  of  Tennessee,  Crittenden  of  Kentucky,  Everett  of  Massachusetts, 
and  McLean  of  Ohio.  The  chances  seem  to  be  in  favor  of  John  Bell. 
There   is  a  disposition  to  use  Mr.  Everett  as  candidate  for  the  Vice- 


106 


PrcslJcnoy.  The  delegates  seem  to  be  in  high  ppirits,  and  to  be  confi- 
dent of  their  ability  to  make  at  least  a  powerful  diversion.  The  general 
fo()li.shnoss  of  the  two  great  parties  has  given  the  third  party  unusual 
animation. 

The  "American"  element  appears  at  once  upon  entoring  the  hall, 
which  is  an  oM  church,  with  galleries  on  three  sides.  The  galleries  are 
festooned  witli  tri-colored  drapery.  There  i.s  a  full-length  painting  of 
Wa.>iliinirtiin,  .surmounted  by  an  American  Eagle,  and  two  jjrcat  flags  of 
our  couutr}-,  behind  the  President's  chair.  The  south  wall,  above  and 
below  the  galleries,  is  covered  with  an  assortment  of  star-spangled  ban- 
ners. The  general  appearance  is  patriotic  as  the  Times  office,  on 
Washington's  birth-day — as  described  on  one  occasion,  four  days  in 
advance. 

As  the  delegates  pressed  in,  the  galleries  were  on  the  look-out  for 
lions,  and  applauded  in  the  old  style  of  the  "spreads,"  whenever  a 
"distinguished"  gentleman  could  be  made  out.  Crittenden  had  quite 
an  ovation. 

When  the  hour  arrived  for  calling  the  Convention  to  order,  Mr. 
Crittenden  advanced  upon  the  platform  and  took  the  chair.  There  was 
a  vociferous  outburst  of  applause.  Some  one  called  for  "Three  cheers 
for  John  J.  Crittenden."  Thej-  were  given  as  only  the  "spreads"  can 
give  them.  "Three  more"  were  called  for  and  given;  and  then 
"three  more,"  wild  and  shrill,  hats  and  handkerchiefs  waving,  and  great 
delight  appearing  in  every  countenance.  Crittenden  bowed  until  he 
was  tired,  and  tlien  took  his  seat.  When  the  noise  subsided,  we  had  a 
prayer,  a  very  fair  pious  political  speech.  It  was  written  out  and  read 
from  manuscript.  The  difiiculty  with  it  was  as  to  whom  it  was 
addressed — to  the  Lord  or  the  Convention.  It  was  very  eloquent  and 
well  delivered. 

IMr.  Crittenden,  as  chairman  of  the  National  Constitutional  Union 
Convention,  called  the  Convention  to  order.  A  speech  was  expected 
from  him,  but  he  only  said  : 

"It  has  been  made  my  duty,  gentlemen,  as  chairman  of  the  Execu- 
tive committee  of  the  Constitutional  party,  to  perform  the  honored  task 
of  calling  this  Convention  to  order,  and  I  will  discharge  the  duty  with 
as  much  brevity  as  I  can.  I  hesitated,  and  was  a  little  diffident  about 
the  propriety  of  my  occupying  your  attention  for  a  single  moment  on  thus 
calling  to  order  this  Convention.  You  are,  in  yourselves,  the  great 
body  that  represents  the  party  of  the  whole  country.  I  will,  therefore, 
only  perform  the  duty  without  an  unnecessary  word. 

"I  would  recommend,  in  the  first  place,  the  appointment  of  a  tempo- 
rary chairman';  and  I  nominate,  in  accordance  with  an  arrangenjent 
which  I  understood  had  to  some  degree  been  made  before,  Wa.>hingtoa 
Hunt,  former  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  as  your  temporary 
cbairman."      [Applause] 

Mr.  Hunt  was  unaniuiously  elected  temporary  chairman.  Mr.  Hunt 
made  a  very  fair  speech,  embodying  many  good  sentiments,  and  glitter- 
ing with  the  usual  generalities  about  peace,  concord,  fraternity,  love, 
good  will,  no  North,  no  South,  etc.  He  referred  to  the  disruption  of 
the  Democratic  party,  wrecked  on  the  mysteries  of  territorial  sovereignty. 


107 

The  Convention  insisted  on  applauding  nearly  every  sentence,  and 
several  times  refused  to  let  him  finish  a  sentence.  It  was  worse  than 
the  applause  given  by  an  Irish  audience  at  an  Archbishop's  lecture. 
The  Americans  must  never  laugh  at  the  Irish  for  their  irrepresssble  dis- 
position to  applaud.  As  the  committee  on  Permanent  OiBcers  was 
being  appointed,  nearly  every  name  received  a  round  of  applause. 
During  the  first  hour  and  a  half  of  the  session,  I  presume  at  least  one 
hundred  rounds  of  applause  were  were  given,  and  the  more  the 
"spreads"  applauded,  the  greater  became  their  zeal.  I  have  stated,  in 
letters  from  Charleston,  I  believe,  that  the  Douglas  men  were  the  most 
noisy  fellows  in  the  world,  in  proportion  to  their  dimensions.  I  take  it 
back.     The  "Plugs"  can  beat  them  at  their  own  game. 

The  committee  on  Permanent  Ofiicers,  consisting  of  one  from  each 
State,  was  constituted  as  follows : 

Alabama — N.  W.  SlioUey.  Mississippi^John  K.  Yurgor. 

Arkansas — G.  0.  Daiiley.  Missouri — Sol  Smith. 

Connecticut — Hou.  Johu  A.  Rockwell.    New  Hampshire — 

California —  New  York — B.  Davis  Noxon. 

Delaware — Wm.  Temple.  Now  Jersey — J.  W.  Allen. 

Florida —  North  Carolina — Nathaniel  Boyden. 

Georgia — J.  S.  Fannin.  Ohio — Allen  Trimble. 

Indiana— John  G.  Heydon.  Oregon — 

Illinois — John  Wilson.  Peinisylvania — Joseph  Paxton. 

Iowa —  Rhode  Island — 

Kentucky — John  W.  Finnell.  South  Carolina — 

Louisiana—  Texas — 

Maine — C.  B.  Jackson.  Tennessee — A.  J.  Donelson. 

Ma.ssachusetts — L.  V.  Bell.  Vermont — John  Wheeler. 

Michigan —  Virginia — Wm.  L.  Goggin. 

Minnesota — T.  J.  Barrett.  Wisconsin — 

Maryland — Thomas  Swann. 

No  delegates  appearing  from  the  States  of  California,  Florida,  Iowa, 
Louisiana,  Michigan,  New  Hampshire,  Oregon,  Rhode  Island,  South 
Carolina  and  Wisconsin. 

Several  of  the  Southern  States  are  very  strongly  represented  here. 
Virginia  and  Tennessee  have  exceedingly  able  delegations  on  the  floor. 

A  great  portion  of  the  delegates  are  of  the  "eminently  respectable" 
class  of  gentlemen — and  most  of  them  are  somewhat  stale  in  politics. 

The  Convention  took  a  recess  until  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
when  A.  J.  Donelson,  from  the  committee  on  Organization,  reported 
the  following  names  for  permanent  officers  of  the  Convention  : 

■   PUESIDENT. 

WASHINGTON  HUNT,  of  New  York. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

S.  R.  Jackson,  Maine.  Jaines  Calhoun,  Georgia. 

R.  M.  Onnshy,  Vermont.  J.  J.  Dew,  Alabama. 

Marshall  P.  Wilder,  Massachusetts.  Richard  W.  Thompson,  Indiana. 

Austin  Baldwin,  Connecticut.  David  A.  Sayer,  Kentucky. 

Frederick  A.  Tallmadge,  New  York.  Edward  F.  McGehee,  Mississippi. 

Peter  J.  Clark,  New  Jersey.  Q.  K.  Underwood,  Arkansas. 

Jos.  II.  Iiigersoll,  Pennsylvania.  Gustavus  Henry,  Tennessee. 

Dennis  Claudi-,  Marylanll.  J,  Scott  Harrison.  Ohio. 

Al'X.  H.  H.  Stuart,  Virginia.  Jos.  P.  Comegys,  Delaware. 
Robert  B.  Gillian,  North  Carolina. 


108 

Secretaries — S.  C.  Long.  Maryland  :  A.  Pay  ton,   Ni-w  Jersey  :  Ezra  Clark. 

Connecticut ; Snow.  Illinois  ;  L.  Saltonstali.  Maj^sachuR'tts  ;  John  W.  Lyiiii, 

Massachusetts;  Saniui-l  Davis.  Kentucky  ;  J.I'.  Early.  Indiana;  Adoljilius  Mue- 
ger,  .Maine  ;  Richard  Bell,  Mississippi ;  John  U.  Calleiider,  Tenuossee. 

The  report  was  unanimously  adopted.  Mr.  Hunt  made  another 
speech,  and  several  other  gentlemen  followed  "  ably  and  eloquently," 
Mr.  Coombs  of  Kentucky,  the  subject  of  platforms  being  introduced, 
made  a  hit  as  follows  : 

So  deeply  have  I  been  impressed  with  the  necessity  of  a  platform  to 
a  great  political  party,  that  I  have  taken  upon  myself  the  labor  of  pre- 
paring three  [laughter],  one  for  the  harmonious  Democracy,  who  hnve 
lately  agreed  together  so  beautifully  at  Charleston  [laughter]  ;  one  for 
the  "  irrepressible  conflict "  gentlemen,  who  are  about  to  assemble  at 
Chicago,  and  another  for  the  National  Unionists  now  before  and  around 
me.  [Laughter].  And  as  all  are  brief  and  perfectly  intelligible,  I 
shall  take  the  liberty  here  to  repeat  them. 

First,  for  the  harmonious  Democracy;  the  Virginia  and  Kentucky  res- 
olutions of  1708-9  [laughter],  without  preamble  or  comment,  followed 
by  two  upon  the  slave  question,  one  in  favor  of  excluding  slavery  from 
the  Territories  of  the  United  States,  and  the  other  in  favor  of  forcing  it 
into  them  [applause]  ;  both  to  be  adopted  unanimously  by  the  Conven- 
tion under  the  previous  question,  and  no  questions  asked  afterward. 
[Laughter]. 

For  the  "  irrepressible  conflict  "  philanthropists  about  to  assemble  at 
Chicago,  I  suggest  the  blue  laws  of  Connecticut  [laughter]  ;  with  a 
slight  modification  upon  two  points  ;  first  in  reference  to  the  right  of  a 
man  to  kiss  his  wife  on  Sunday,  and  the  second  in  reference  to  burning 
witches,  providing  that  the  young  wife  shall  have  the  privilege  to  be 
kissed  and  the  old  witches  to  be  burned.     [Great  applause.] 

In  reference  to  this  Convention  I  have  provided  a  still  shorter  plat- 
form— The  Constitution  of  the  Ignited  States  as  it  is  ["  Good  !  good  !  " 
and  applause]  ;  the  Constitution  as  it  is,  and  the  Union  under  it  now 
and  forever.  [Great  applause.]  I  will  not  speak  in  reference  to  the 
first  at  large,  but  I  venture  to  say  that  it  will  be  as  intelligible  hereaf- 
ter to  the  wide-spread  Democracy,  as  it  has  been  heretofore  ;  and  being: 
thus  intelligible,  I  venture  to  stake  all  I  am  worth — not  very  much — 
that  not  one  in  five  hundred  have  read  those  resolutions,  and  not  one  in 
five  hundred  who  have  read  them  understand  them. 

In  reference  ot  our  platform — the  Constitution  as  it  is — the  Legisla- 
tive, Judicial  and  Executive  departments,  each  in  its  separate  depart- 
ment supreme.  I  think  that  will  be  platform  enough  for  the  Union 
party  to  stand  upon  [applause] — the  Congress  of  the  United  States  to 
enact  the  laws,  the  Judicial  department  to  interpret,  and  the  Executive 
to  have  them  executed. 

This  is  all  we  want;  that  is  all  we  need.  Were  I  an  assemblage  of 
Christians  about  to  establish  a  creed  for  Christians,  do  you  think  I  would 
Uike  dipping  or  sprinkling?  I  would  take  the  Bible  as  it  is,  leaving 
all  to  construe  it,  they  being  responsible  for  its  construction.  [Immense 
applause,  and  three  cheers  for  Mr.  Coombs,  the  Convention  rising  in 
their  places.] 


109 


Erastus  Brooks  said  : 

Sir,  we  misjudge  the  people  of  the  country,  if  any  nf  us  suppose 
that  they  are  not  heart-sick  and  head-sick  of  what  are  called,  technically, 
party  platforms.  We  know  it ;  what  we  have  seen  at  Charleston  is  but 
illustrating  the  fable  of  Saturn,  for  they  literally  devoured  their  own 
progeny.  [Applause].  What  we  see  elsewhere  in  regard  to  the  great 
Kepubliean  party  is  equally  true — they  are  composed  in  one  State  of 
various  classes  of  men  ;  a  conservative  class  in  favor  of  the  Fugitive 
Slave  law  and  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  that  class  ad- 
dresses themselves  to  the  commercial  community  and  to  the  manufac- 
turing community.  There  is  another  class  of  men  who  follow  in  the 
wake  of  these,  leaving  the  city  and  going  into  the  rural  districts,  and 
there  they  preach  as  the  great  architect  of  that  party  preached  at  Cleve- 
land, for  a  higher  law  than  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

A  committee  on  Resolutions  and  Business  was  constituted  as  follows  : 


Alabama — A.  F.  Alexander. 
Arkansas — M.  S.  Kenuani. 
Counecticut — Austin  Baldwin. 
Delaware— Chas.  F.  Cullen. 
Georgia — Hon.  Joshua  Hill. 
Indiana — Hon.  R.  W.  Thompson. 
Illinois — John  Wilson. 
Kt-ntucky — C.  F.  Burnham. 
Maine — George  E.  B.  Jacksoa. 
ilassachusetts — Abial  S.  Lewis. 
Minnesota — T.  J.  Barrett. 
Maryland — George  A.  Pearrie. 


Mississippi — John  "W.  C.  Watson. 
Missom-i — Thomas  A.  Harris. 
New  York — Hon.  Erastus  Brook.s. 
New  Jersey — Joseph  F.  Randolph. 
North  Carolina— Richard  S.  Donald. 
Ohio— N.  G.  Pendleton. 
Pennsylvania — Hon.  Jos.  R.  Ingersoll. 
Texas — A.  B.  Norton. 
Tennessee — Hon.  Bailie  Peyton. 
Vermont — John  Wheeler. 
Virginia — Robert  E.  Scott. 


SPIRIT    OF    THE    FIRST    DAY  S    PROCEEDINGS. 

BALxrMOKE  May  9th  (at  night). 
The  Convention  organized  in  this  city  to-day  does  not  furnish  a  very 
animating  theme.  Not  that  it  was  not  animated  in  itself.  There  were  the 
same  furious  demonstrations  of  enthusiasm  that  we  had  occasion  to  re- 
mark in  the  Fillmore  performances  in  1856.  A  hundred  of  the  Fill- 
more men  would  make  more  noise  than  three  times  as  many  Democrats 
or  ten  times  the  number  of  Republicans.  There  is  too  much  unanimity 
here,  however,  to  be  interesting.  Every  body  is  eminently  respectable, 
intensely  virtuous,  devotedly  patriotic,  and  fully  resolved  to  save  the 
country.  They  propose  to  accomplish  that  political  salvation  so  devout- 
ly to  be  wished,  by  ignoring  all  the  rugged  issues  of  the  day.  The  ex- 
pression against  platforms  was  universal  and  enthusiastic.  Instead  of 
proceeding  to  make  a  platform,  the  worthies  here  in  Convention  assem- 
bled all  fell  to  abusing  platforms.  There  was  probably  as  much  discre- 
tion as  virtue  in  this,  for  the  delegates  would  find  it  impossible  to  aoree 
on  an  expre.«sion  of  principles  formally  kid  down,  and  the  intention  is, 
to  make  the  canvass  simply  upon  an  assumption  that  this  body  repre- 
sents the  "Conservative  American  Constitutional  Union  element." 
What  this  element  proposes  to  do,  can  be  stated  in  one  way  in  the 
South  and  another  way  in  the  North,  and  thus  our  excellent  friends  will 
have  all  the  advantages  of  an  ambiguous  platform,  and  will  not  encoun- 
ter any  of  the  disabilities  attendant  upon  a  written  standard  of  ortbo- 


110 

doxy  ^^ilyo^  Swann  statoil  that,  when  John  J.  Crittondon  took  the 
fitand,  he  saw  platform  enough  for  him,  and  the  "  plugs  "  who  were  in 
the  galleries,  cheered  him  tremendously.  I  have  heard  a  great  deal 
of  virtuous  twaddle  in  public  speeches  within  a  few  weeks,  but  the  essence 
of  the  article  was  uncorked  to-day.  Erastus  Brooks  gave  his  idea  of  a  plat- 
form. It  was  the  Constitution  and  laws.  The  Constitution  as  inter- 
preted by  the  constituted  authorities — the  highest  judicial  authorities — 
and  the  enforcement  of  the  laws.  Now.  P^rastus  is  the  editor  of  the 
New  Vi>rk  Express,  and  therefore  a  great  man.  He  was  consequently 
applauded  throughout  with  even  unusual  vigor.  Ho  is  in  favor  of  the 
nomination  of  Gen.  Sam.  Houston,  a  rather  good  old  soul,  as  we  all 
know,  but  the  most  shallow  of  the  shallow  politicians  who  have  been 
engaged  for  some  years  in  attending  to  the  affairs  of  our  beloved  coun- 
try. He  probably  has  a  very  brilliant  understanding  of  that  Constitu- 
tion and  law  which  is  to  be  the  platform.  His  appreciation  of  and 
respect  for  the  constituted  authorities  was  exemplified  in  his  recent  pro- 
position to  invade  Mexico.  While  speeches  were  being  made,  the 
chair  announced  that  the  delegation  from  Texas  was  at  the  door.  [Tre- 
mendous applause.]  The  chair  directed  the  door-keeper  to  admit  the 
delegation  from  Texas.  [Tremendous  applause.]  The  delegation  from 
Texa-s  was  admitted.  [More  tremendous  applause.]  The  delegation, 
beaded  by  a  man  with  a  beard  half  a  yard  long,  who  was  dressed  in 
home-spun  and  bore  a  great  buck-horn-handle  cane,  made  its  way  to  a 
front  seat,  amid  "  tremendous  applause."  An  officious  delegate  said 
that  the  long-haired  man  had  agreed  at  one  time  not  to  have  his  hair 
cut  until  Henry  Clay  was  elected  President.  [Still  more  tremendous 
applause.] 

During  both  sessions  of  the  Convention  this  day,  every  speech  was 
received  in  this  "  tremendous  "  style.  The  moment  a  speaker  would 
say  Constitution ;  laic;  Union;  American;  conservative  element; 
glorious  victory  ;  our  fathers  ;  our  Jlag ;  our  country ;  or  any  thing 
of  the  sort,  he  had  to  pause  for  some  time,  until  the  general  rapture 
would  discharge  itself  by  stamping,  clapping  hands,  rattling  canes,  etc., 
etc.  I  have  likened  the  enthusiasm  to  that  of  an  Irish  audience  at  an 
archbishop's  lecture.  It  was  so,  with  some  additional  peculiarities  of 
extravagance.  The  noise  and  confusion  of  applause  became  a  disgust- 
ing bore  to  all  but  the  patriotic  "plugs," 

If  I  had  not  known  otherwise,  I  should  have  thought  sometimes  that 
the  incessant  rage  of  approbation  was  factious;  but  the  "plugs"  by 
whom  the  galleries  were  loaded,  meant  only  to  emit  their  pent-up  ec- 
stasy. So  vivid  wore  their  perceptions  of  patriotic  sentiments,  that  they 
couid  not  in  dozens  of  ca.«es  await  the  conclusion  of  a  sentence,  before 
shouting  and  stamping  like  Yahoos  on  a  spree.  When  a  speaker  would 
put  off  .'iomething  about  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  our  beloved  coun- 
try, he  wovild  be  obliged  to  suspend  bis  remarks,  until  the  tempest  of 
approbation  sub.sided.  And  if  he  should,  in  order  to  make  himself  in- 
tellit^ible,  so  far  as  he  might,  commence  the  broken  sentence  over  again, 
ten  to  one,  when  he  arrived  at  the  patriotic  point,  where  the  fracture 
cnmmciiced,  the  storm  would  break  out  again,  with  redoubled  fury.  As 
a  matter  of  necessity,  a  committee  to  report  business   was  constituted 


It  was  necessary  to  present  some  business  to  tbe  Convention.  About 
every  other  committee  man's  name  was  received  with  outrageous  yells 
of  admiration  from  the  galleries,  and  stamping  so  desperate  that  the 
mortar  rattled  down,  and  there  were  apprehensions  that  the  galleries 
themselves  might  tumble  under  the  weight  of  rampant  patriotism  heaped 
into  them. 

It  is  presumed  that  a  nomination  will  take  place  to-morrow,  and  that 
several  cheers  will  go  up,  and  that  a  determination  to  elect  the  nominee 
and  save  our  sweet  country,  will  be  expressed  by  a  large  number  of 
"able  and  eloquent"  gentlemen,  who  will  cause  the  skies  to  be  rent 
with  roars  of  American  enthusiasm. 

The  turn  out  of  delegates  is  larger  than  was  expected.  I  believe 
there  are  really  as  many  people  in  attendance  here,  as  there  were  at 
Charleston.  The  hotels  are  full,  and  the  narrow  Baltimorean  sidewalks 
can  hardly  contain  the  groups  of  exuberant  and  vociferous  patriots. 
John  Bell  stock  was  high  to-day,  and  is  tolerably  well  high  up  yet,  but 
there  are  many  who  are  anxious  to  avail  themselves  of  the  battle  of 
San  Jacinto.  The  persuasion  that  presses  John  Bell  is,  that  he  is 
strong  in  the  North.  But  nearly  every  body  ought  to  know,  that  he 
could  not  carry  a  single  Northern  State.  The  pressure  for  Houston  is 
upon  the  presumption  that  he  is  powerful  in  the  South.  I  am  very 
seriously  told  that  he  could  sweep  every  State  in  the  South  with  perfect 
ease,  and  New  York  also,  thereby  securing  his  election  in  the  Electoral 
College.  And,  I  am  further  informed,  that  if  by  some  unforeseen  acci- 
dent or  most  illogical  turn  of  affairs,  he  should  not  be  triumphantly 
elected  according  to  the  first  form  made  and  provided  by  the  Constitu- 
tion, and  the  election  should  be  thrown  into  Congress,  the  Republicans 
there  would  prevent  the  election  of  an  ultra-Southern  man  by  the 
Senate,  by  joining  in  the  House  with  the  men  who  have  taken  the 
Constitution,  Union,  and  salvation  of  the  country  into  special  consider- 
ation; and  by  elevating  their  champion  to  the  Presidency,  give  the 
nation  another  lease  of  life.  I  have  been  obliged  to  say  to  some  of  our 
Constitution-loving  friends,  that  I  did  not  think  the  nominee  of  this 
Convention,  even  with  the  naked  Constitution  for  a  platform,  would  be 
certain  to  carry  the  State  of  Ohio.  I  have  gone  so  far  as  to  indicate  an 
apprehension  that  the  chances  were,  the  electoral  vote  of  the  State 
.  would  be  thrown  for  somebody  else. 


SECOND    DAY. 

Bai.timoue,  JIuy  8tb. 
When  the  President  of  the  Couvention,  Washington  Hunt,  Esq., 
appeared  upon  the  platform  this  morning  he  was  received  with  the  usual 
joyous  cries  and  stamping.  The  Convention  being  called  to  order,  we 
had  a  fervent  prayer  for  the  Union.  The  minister  did  not,  like  his 
brethren  in  some  cases  at  Charleston,  pray  directly  for  the  triumph  of 
the  ticket  that  might  be  put  forward.  The  Union  being  prayed  for, 
however,  it  was  inferred  that  as  this  body  had  the  confederacy  in  charge, 


112 

the  petition  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  included  an  invocatioil  for 
the  success  of  the  Convention's  nominees  before  the  people. 

The  old  church  used  by  the  Convention  is  very  much  crowded  this 
morning.  The  ladies'  gallery  is  well  filled  ;  but  there  is  hardly  a  fair 
repre.'Jentation  of  that  female  loveliness,  for  which  this  city  has  a  just 
celebrity. 

There  are  many  distinguished  men  on  the  floor,  but  they  are  mostly 
"  venerable  men,"  who  have  come  down  to  us  from  a  former  generation 
of  politicians,  and  whose  retirement  from  the  busy  scenes  of  public  life 
have  been  rather  involuntary  than  otherwise,  and  whose  disgust  at  politr 
ical  trickery  may  perhaps  in  part  be  attributed  to  the  failure  of  the  popu- 
lace to  appreciate  iheir  abilities  and  virtues. 

The  Hun.  Jos.  R.  Ingersoll  made  the  report  of  the  Business  commit- 
tee.    He  said  of  the  committeemen  : 

They  met  with  entire  cordiality ;  they  proceeded  with  entire  good 
feeling,  and  they  terminated  their  proceedings  with  great  uuanirnity, 
and  I  may  say  with  patriotism.  [Applause.]  I  would  not  venture  to 
present  as  an  example  at  all  to  a  great  and  highly  respectable  body  like 
this  the  feeling  and  the  courteous  deportment  of  the  gentlemen  with 
whom  I  had  the  pleasure  to  sit  as  chairman  last  evening;  but  I  would 
say  that  a  more  entirely  respectable  set  of  men — in  manner,  appear- 
ance, and  in  result — I  never  saw.     [Applause.] 

THE   PIJLTFORM. 

Whereas^,  expcTJciice  has  demonstrated  that  platforms  adopted  by  the  parti- 
san Coaventions  of  the  country  have  had  the  effect  to  mislead  and  deceive  the 
people,  and  at  the  same  time  to  widen  the  political  divisions  of  the  country,  by 
the  creation  and  encouragement  of  geographical  and  sectional  parties;  there- 
fore 

Rf-'olved,  That  it  is  both  the  part  of  patriotism  and  of  duty  to  recognize  no 
political  principles,  other  than 

TuE  CoxsTrroTioN  ok  the  Country, 

The  Union  ok  the  St.\tes,  and 

The  Enkokcement  of  the  Laws; 

(Loud  and  prolonged  cheering.) 
and  that,  as  the  representatives  of  the  Constitutional  Union  men  of  the  country 
in  National  Convention  assembled,  we  here  pledge  ourselves  to  maintain,  pro- 
tect, and  defend,  separately  and  unitedly,  those  great  principirs  of  public  lilj- 
erty  and  national  safety,  against  all  enemies,  at  home  and  abroad,  lielieving  that 
thereby  peace  may  once  more  be  restored  to  the  countrj',  and  the  just  rights  of 
the  people,  and  of  the  States  re-established,  and  the  Government  again  placi  d 
in  that  condition  of  justice,  fraternity  and  e((uality,  which,  under  liie  example 
and  constitution  of  our  fathers,  has  solemnly  bound  every  citiziii  of  tlie  United 
States  to  maintain.  •■  a  more  perfect  union,  establish  justice,  insure  domestic 
tranquillity,  provide  for  the  common  defense,  promote  the  general  welfare,  and 
secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  posterity.'"  [i'rolongotl 
cheers.] 

Mr.  Ingersoll  in  making  this  report  was  cheered  when  he  took  the 
stand,  cheered  when  he  opened  his  mouth,  given  nine  cheers  when  he 
said  the  committee  had  with  entire  unanimity  and  surprising  enthusiasm 
agreed  that  there  should  be  no  formal  platform.  When  the  declaration 
of  principles  was  read,  there  was  more  cheering.  The  opening  proceed- 
ings were,  in  fact,  a  long  yell,  j)artially  subsiding  at  intervals,  so  that  a 
few  remarks  could  be  interpolated.     The  declaration  of  principles  was 


113 

passed  unanimously,  with  a  proper  amount  of  the  article  of  enthusiam. 
But  the  perfect  harmony  which  had  thus  far  prevailed,  was  now  dis- 
turbed. There  was  a  distressingly  earnest  and  dreadfully  protracted 
discussion,  on  the  report  as  to  the  process  of  business,  which  was  pre- 
scribed in  the  following  resolutions  : 

Resolved,  That  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  the  same  numhor  of  votes  in 
this  Convention  as  its  electoral  vote,  and  that  each  delegation  shall,  for  itself, 
determine  the  manner  in  which  its  vote  shall  be  cast. 

Resolved,  That  in  balloting  for  President  and  Vice-President,  ballots  shall  be 
taken  until  the  candidate  nominated  shall  receive  a  majority  of  all  the  votes 
cast ;  that  the  candidate  for  President  shall  first  be  balloted  for  and  selected, 
and  then  the  candidate  for  Vice-President. 

There  was  an  impression  somewhere  that  there  was  a  disposition  in 
the  various  States  to  coerce  the  minorities,  and  out  of  this  the  trou- 
ble grew. 

The  Convention  got  itself  into  a  very  uncomfortable  condition  of  con- 
fusion, and  about  twenty  resolutions  were  heaped  upon  each  other. 
The  "  gallant  and  gifted  Goggin,"  of  Virginia,  at  last  offered  a  resolu- 
tion, which  brought  the  Convention  out  of  tribulation  and  the  rapids  of 
controversy  into  calm  and  deep  water. 

It  was  as  follows  : 

Resolved,  That  the  chairman  of  each  delegation  shall  cast  the  vote  of  bis  State 
for  each  delegate,  in  such  way  as  he  may  be  instructed  by  the  delegate  entitled 
to  vote,  and  when  there  is  not  a  full  representation  from  any  State,  then  the 
majority  of  such  delegation  shall  decide  .how  the  vote  of  the  district  unrepre- 
sented shall  be  cast ;  and  where  there  be  two  delegates  who  cannot  agree,  each 
of  said  delegates  shall  be  entitled  to  one-half  a  vote. 

This  was  adopted. 

At  half-past  eleven,  the  nomination  of  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency 
was  in  order.  Some  time  was  spent  by  the  various  State  delegations, 
in  preparing  their  votes,  and  there  was  no  little  sensation  in  the  hall. 
The  Maryland  delegation  being  unable  to  get  the  proper  construction  of 
the  Goggin  resolution  through  its  head  without  a  surgical  operation,  re- 
tired for  consultation,  and  to  have  the  necessary  operation  performed. 
A  delegate  from  Minnesota  had  a  delicacy.  He  was  the  only  man  from 
that  State,  and  had  not  been  appointed  a  delegate.  He  was  a  substi- 
tute, consequently  he  did  not  feel  like  representing  the  State.  The 
voice  of  the  Convention  overcame  his  modesty.  The  names  most  loud- 
ly cheered  as  the  balloting  proceeded  were  those  of  John  Bell  and  Ed- 
ward Everett.  Everett  reeeived  a  long  and  loud  clamor,  and  the  ladies 
waved  their  handkerchiefs.  When  the  vote  of  J'esas  was  called  for, 
her  hairy  delegate  got  up  and  mentioned  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto,  and 
tried  to  give  peculiar  emphasis  to  the  Sam  part  of  Houston's  name. 
But  it  did  not  take  wonderfully. 

The  first  ballot  resulted  as  follows : 


114 


FIRST 

BALLOT. 

SUdea. 

a; 
> 

a 
o 

3 
O 

a 

d 

1 

c 
O 

S 

a 
1 



a 
o 
o 

X 

"3 
n 

>> 

s 

Alabama      .        

9 

3 

1 

n 

•6 

Connecticut 

1 

Dt'luware 

Florida 

3 

10 

Indiana      .                 ... 

13 

Illinois 

H 

Si 

Kentucky 

12 

Maine  . .        

8 

Masi^acbusetts 

13 

Maryland 

I 

n 

. . . . 

Mississippi 

7 

Missouri 

9 

1 

New  York 

28 

1 

4 

2 

2 

New  Jersey    

2 

North  Carolina 

10 

Ohio 

5 
9 

7^ 
4 

11 

4 

2 

2 

Oregon 

17^ 

2 

Texas  

Tennessee 

12 

Vermont 

5 

2 

9^ 

7 

13 

25 

67 

68J 

28 

3 

22 

21 

13 

The  President  aDOOunced  the  result  as  follows  : 

Whole  number  of  votes  cast 254 

Necessary  to  a  choice 128 

Of  which  John  Bell  of  Tennessee  received 68J 

Sam.  Houston  of  Texas 57 

John  J.  Crittenden 28 

Edward  Everett 25 

Wm.  A.  Graham 22 

John  McLean 21 

Wra.  C.  Rives 13 

John  M.  liotts 9i 

Wm.  L.  iSharkey 7" 

Wm.  L.  Goggia 3 

As  the  second  ballot  was  being  taken  it  became  apparent  that  the 
friends  of  John  Bell  were  in  the  ascendant. 

As  the  vote  of  New  York  was  being  taken,  Jas.  W.  Garrard,  of  that 
State,  gave  his  political  biography.  IIu  stated  that  he  had  been  in  the 
habit  of  standing  up  in  favor  of  the  South.  He  was  a  Northern  uiaa 
with  Northern  principles.  Northern  conservative  principles  were  the 
same  as  Southern  conservative  principles.  He  mentioned  that  he  had 
several  times  talked  like  a  prophet.  He  had  something  to  say  of 
Washington,  the  American  Eagle,  the  Washington  monument,  the 
Battle   uiouument,  and    striking   upon   expediency,    availability,  etc., 


115 


wound  up  with  a  screech  for  Sara.  Houston,  appealing  in  behalf  of  the 
Dutch  and  Irish  of  New  York.  He  declared  that  what  was  wanted 
was  a  Southern  Democrat  to  sweep  up  the  votes. 

Pendleton  of  Ohio  declared  that  Ohio  wanted  a  Southern  Whig. 
This  expression  was  received  with  an  uproar  of  approbation,  as  it  was 
understood  to  be  a  stroke  for  John  Bell.  So  it  was  Southern  Whig 
against  Southern  Democrat. 

Houston's  long-haired  friend  from  Texas,  made  a  wild  speech  for 
him.  He  (long  hair)  was  an  old  friend  of  Henry  Clay — loved, 
admired,  revered  him,  and  followed  him -through  his  days  of  adversity. 
But  Sam.  Houston  was  the  man.  "    ''..•',      ,    •  • 

It  was  now  clear,  however,  that  ihc  dpod  was  for  JoJin  Bell. 

When  the  State  of  Virginia  waS'  called,  >  Mr.  Snin:aiers  of  Virginia 
stated  that  the  delegation  asked  to  be  allowed  a- jijw  moioents  for  con- 
sultation, before  announcing  her  vote. 

The  excitement  was  intense  throughout,  tha  ypnvet'tion.  as  upon  the 
vote  which  Virginia  might  give,  would  depend  the  no.'iination  of  Hon. 
John  Bell  of  Tennessee  upon  this  ballot,  as  he  then  lacked  but  three 
votes  of  a  majority  of  all  the  electoral  votes  represented  in  the  Con- 
vention. 

The  ballot,  as  it  then  stood,  was  as  follows  : 


SECOND 

BALLOT. 

States. 

"3 

pq 

c 
o 

5 

B 

CS 

/a 

5 

> 

O 

cs 

c 
<u 

a 

o 

Alabama 

9 

Arkansas 

4 

^ 

Counecticut 

3^ 

3 

3 

Delaware 

Florida 

3J 

6^ 

Keotucky  

4 
12 

r 

i 

Indiana 

Illinois  

5^ 

H 

Maine       

8 
12 

Massacbusetts  

1 

Missouri       

1 

29 

1 

1 

6 

New  York , 

4 
5 

New  Jersey     

1 

North  Carolina 

10 

Ohio       

18 
19 

5 

7 
4 

Pennsylvania 

Texas  

12 
5 

Virginia     

Total 

12.5 

68 

\H 

n 

s^h 

8i 

0 

1 

Mr.  Summers,  on  the  part  of  the  Virginia  delegation,  announced  that 


116 

ho  had   Viccn   instructed  to  announce  that  thoy  oast  13  votes  for  John 
Bfll  of  Tennessee,  and  2  votes  for  John  Minor  IJotts. 

This  <(:ive  Bell  a  majority,  and  there  was  a  (rn-at  elamor  of  applause, 
a  tearlnj;  roar  of  cheers,  a  violent  stamping — B  Milam  brok<  n  loose. 

Tlie  Convention  now  went  through  the  formality  of  changing  votes, 
so  as  to  make  the  nomination  unanimous.  As  State  after  State  changed 
its  vote,  there  were  the  usual  demonstrations  of  deligtit,  by  which  this 
Convention  has  been  distinguished  above  all  other  caucuses  ever  heard  of. 

Leslie  Coombs,  in  clianging  the  vote  of  Kentucky,  paid  a  high  com- 
pliment to  Gen.  Sam-  Ho'Uton,  and  went  over  to  IJell.  Coombs  said 
since  the  death  oi"  Cliy,  be  h^d  not  been  in  active  political  life;  but 
since  the  tocsin,  of  disunion  .hajd  becjn  sounded  North  and  South,  he 
had  thought  it  Hiis  .d.ity  .to  c'oaye  up  out  of  his  political  grave,  and 
join  the  throng  of  the  living,  and  enter  into  the  campaign  for  the  Union. 

There  Tii,s  "a  great  deal  ^id  of  the  great  Btil  that  was  to  toll  the 
knell  of  the  De.ah?C!;afiQ  party'..  Several  gentlemen  were  quite  capti- 
vated by  their  aUliXy'to  pun  on  the  name  of  the  "favorite  son  of  Ten- 
nessee," and  a  delegate  from  Pennsylvania  proposed  to  furnish  the  bell- 
metal  necessary  for  the  enormous  National  Bell  which  was  to  be  sound- 
ed over  the  Union.      And  so  on  for  quantity. 

While  New  York  was  changinsr  her  vote,  there  was  a  crash  somewhere, 
and  it  suddenly  occurred  to  every  body  that  the  galleries,  which  were 
enormou.sly  loaded,  were  giving  way.  There  was  a  tremendous  rush 
of  terrified  men  for  the  doors  and  windows.  By,  great  efF)rts  of  those 
who  were  too  far  from  tho  windows  to  get  out,  and  tho-e  who  were  in  a 
position,  and  cool  enough  to  see  that  there  was  no  danger,  the  panic  was 
subdued.  When  it  was  discovered  that  there  was  no  peril,  the  crowd 
stared  at  each  other,  with  white  faces,  and  laughed. 

The  changing  of  votes  was  so  tedious,  that  it  became  an  almost 
insufferable  bore.  It  was  over  with  at  last,  however.  Erastus  Brooks 
moved  to  make  the  nomination  unanimous,  and  the  chairman  put  the 
question  whether  that  should  be  done.  Thereupon  there  was  a  yell 
that  was  called  unanimous.  Then  the  chairman  arose  to  perform  the 
proudest  duty  of  his  life.  It  was  almost  too  l)ig  for  him.  Bui  he 
struggleil  with  it  and  triumphed,  and  he  proclaimed  that  John  Bell  was 
the  unanimous  choice  of  that  Convention. 

Major  G.  A.  Henry,  of  Tennessee,  grandson  of  Patrick  Henry, 
responded  in  behalf  of  his  State.  He  spoke  in  glowing  terms  of  John 
Bell,  who.se  whole  record  he  declared  to  be  sound.  No  sectional  sen- 
timent ever  soiled  the  paper  on  which  his  speeches  were  written. 

He  proceeded  to  make  a  Union  speech.  It  would  not  do  to  allow 
the  Union  to  be  dissolved.  He,  for  one,  could  not  stand  by  and  per- 
mit it.  The  revolutionary  blood  in  his  veins  forbade  him  to  be  passive 
on  such  an  occasion.  A  voice  here  cried  out — "A  grandson  of  Pa- 
trick Henry  I"  There  was  at  once  a  sensation.  Three  cheers  and 
three  more  were  given,  and  Washington  Hunt  sprang  up,  his  eyes 
streamin<»'  tear«,  and  grasped  his  hand.  3Ir.  Henry  is  a  tall,  well-formed 
gentleman,  with  tine  pleasant  face,  bald  hea<i,  and  fringe  of  silvery 
white  hair  about  the  ears.     The  old   man   had  really  inherited   some 


117 

of  the  powers  as  an  orator  of  his  illustrious  ancestor,  and  made  the  speech 
of  the  Convention. 

"We  are  Union  penple;  shall  we  throw  this  Union  awny?  TTow  can 
we  avoid  the  responsihility  of  standing  up  to  defend  it?  With  what 
face  could  we  meet  the  wondering  nations,  if  by  strife  and  hate  and 
blinded  councils,  and  the  blasted  sway  of  demagogues  accursed,  we 
throw  away  the  richest  heritage  that  God  ever  gave  to  mun,  blot  out 
our  fair  escutcheon  to  all  coming  time,  deliver  down  our  nsinies  to  be 
accursed,  teach  despots  that  freedom  is  but  a  dream,  quench  its  fair 
light  wherever  it  may  dawn,  and  bid  the  lovers  of  mankind  despair? 
If  such  must  be  our  country's  early  doom;  if  all  her  piide,  her  power, 
her  cherished  hopes,  our  stripes,  our  stars,  our  heritage  of  glory,  and 
the  bright  names  we  h;ive  taught  our  children  to  revere — if  all  must 
end  in  this,  never  let  free  man  meet  free  man  again,  and  greet  him  with 
length  of  years. 

"  'An  early  tomb, 
Whprpin  to  escape   the  hiss  anrt  scorn 
Of  all  mankind,  were  sure  a  better  doom.' 

"  Tear  down  your  flag;  burn  your  Capitol ;  dismiss  your  navy  ;  dis- 
band your  army;  let  our  commerce  rot;  overturn  all  your  monuments, 
here  in  Baltimore  and  everywhere  else;  give  to  the  flames  the  once 
loved  record  of  our  father's  deeds;  scatter  the  sacred  dust  of  Washing- 
ton ['Never,'  'never,'],  teach  your  boys  to  forget  his  nan)e,  and 
never  let  the  pilgrim's  foot  tread  the  consecrated  groves  of  Mount 
Vernon.  Can  we  surrender  all  these  bright  and  glorious  hopes?  If 
we  can,  then  we  of  the  Union  party  are  the  mo.st  recreant  of  all  man- 
kind, and  the  curses  of  all  time  will  cling  upon  us  like  the  shirt  of 
Nessus.  " 

His  description  of  the  return  of  delegates  from  Charleston  was  rich. 
He  said : 

"As  I  was  coming  on  here,  the  other  day,  I  saw  some  of  the  dele- 
gates returning  from  Charleston,  and  I  declare  to  you  that  I  never  saw 
a  more  broken  down  and  desponding  set.  [Laughter.]  They  were 
tired,  sleepy,  and  disheartened;  and  I  must  say  without  any  figure  of 
speech,  they  were  'unwashed.'  [Renewed  laughter  and  applause.] 
I  said  to  them,  '  Gentlemen,  what  upon  earth  is  the  matter  with  you 
now?  What  has  happened  to  you?'  'Oh!'  says  one  man,  'our 
national  Democracy  is  broken  up,  and  the  lamentations  of  the  whole 
world,  I  reckon,  will  attend  it.'  '  Oh  !  yes,'  said  I,  '  I  shed  oceans  of 
tears  over  the  result.'  [Laughter.]  They  looked  to  me  like  the 
broken  columns  of  Napoleon's  army  when  they  returned  discomfited 
from  Moscow. 

"  Here  and  there  I  caught  one  and  asked  him  what  occurred  down 
there.  'Why,'  said  one,  'I  have  not  slept  a  wink  for  four  nights.' 
[Laughter.]  I  said  to  one,  who  I  thought  tieated  me  a  little  scurvily 
about  it,  '  Why,  perhaps  a  little  good  brandy  would  cheer  yfiu  up.' 
'No,'  said  he,  'even  burnt  brandy  wouldn't  save  me  now.'  [Renewed 
laughter.]  Gentlemen,  upon  my  honor,  I  expect  every  one  of  them  to 
die  soon,  and  in  every  paper  I  read  I  look  to  see  the  death  of  some  of 
the  Charleston  members." 


118 

The  old  man  was  in  good  earnest,  and  his  cfF)rt  was  immensely 
acceptable.  In  truth,  I  have  seldom  heaid  a  speech  better  calculated 
to  arouse  popular  feeling.  When  he  closed  he  was  given  about  twenty- 
five  cbeers,  and  the  Convention  being  in  the  humor  for  talk  rather  than 
business,  the  Hon.  W.  L.  Sharkey  of  Mississippi  was  called  upon  fur  a 
speech,  at  the  conclusion  of  which  the  Convention  took  a  recess. 

Upon  reassembling,  there  was  an  eagerness  on  the  part  of  nearly  all 
the  delegations  to  put  forward  fur  nomination  for  the  second  place  on 
the  ticket,  the  name  of  the  Hon.  Edward  Everett.  Only  one  other 
name  was  proposed.  Col.  Finnell  of  Kentucky  nominated  the  chair- 
man of  the  Convention,  Washington  Hunt,  who  declined  to  allow  the  use 
of  his  name,  in  a  speech  entirely  too  long  and  rather  awkward.  After 
about  twenty  speeches,  which  filled  up  three  hours,  and  such  stamping 
and  shouting  as  was  absolutely  deafening,  the  nomination  of  Everett 
was  made  by  acclamation. 

The  speech  of  this  part  of  the  performance  was  made  by  the  Hon. 
Geo.  S.  Hillard,  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Boston  Courier.  Mr.  Hil- 
lard's  effort  was  exceedingly  graceful,  and  well  worded,  and  the  ladies 
honored  him  by  throwing  bouquets  upon  the  platform.  He  responded 
by  telling  them  that  unfortunately  the  ladies  of  Massachusetts  were 
Republicans  almost  to  a  man. 

The  following  is  the  passage  of  his  speech  : 

"Now,  gentlemen  of  the  Convention,  you  have  this  day  done  a  good 
and  glorious  work.  It  will  send  a  thrill  of  joy  and  hope  all  over  the 
land.  I  know  well  the  feeling  which  will  be  awakened  in  New  Eng- 
land. It  would  be  felt  there  like  the  breeze  from  the  sea  after  a  day  of 
exhausted  heat ;  like  as  a  man  at  the  poles  who  is  languishing  after  the 
protracted  darkness  of  an  arctic  winter  feels,  when  he  sees  the  first 
ruddy  spark  which  tells  him  that  the  spring  and  summer  is  coming,  so 
shall  we  at  the  North  welcome  the  intelligence  of  this  Convention. 
[Applause  ]  As  the  greater  part  of  creation  waiteth  for  the  manifes- 
tation of  the  Son  of  God,  so  all  over  the  land  will  the  true  and  patriotic 
citizens  of  America  rise  up  and  call  you  blessed.  As  you  go  home  you 
will  be  received  with  applause,  with  the  waving  of  handkerchiefs, 
the  clapping  of  hands,  and  eyes  sparkling  with  joy  and  triumph.  As 
the  English  poet  has  said  upon  a  great  occasion — 

"'Men  met  each  other  with  erected  look  ; 
The  steps  were  hignesl  which  they  toiik  ; 
Frleuds  to  coiigralulate  their  frieuils  tuade  haste, 
Aud  loug  inveterate  foes  buhited  as  they  |iasaed.' 

When  we  gn  back  to  Massachusetts,  and  to  New  England,  all  over  our 
hills  and  valleys  which  are  but  just  beginning  to  feel  the  genial  touch 
of  spring,  what  a  thrdl  of  joy  and  exultatioti  will  ring  along  our  cities, 
our  towns,  our  villages,  our  ^•olitary  furm-houses,  which  nestle  in  the 
hollows  of  the  hilh!  It  will  be  so  every  where.  [Applause.]  '  How 
beautiful  on  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  those  who  bring  tidings  of 
peace.'  How  beautiful,  beautiful  upon  the  mountains,  are  the  feet  of 
those  who  reconcile  sectional  discord  ;  that  bring  together  the  North 
and  the  South  and  the  West,  and  bind  them  together  in  the  unity  of 


119 

the  spirit  of  the  land  of  peace  !"      [Cries  of  "  Good,"    "  good,"   and 
applause] 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Lathrop  of  Pennsylvania,  the  following  persons 
were  constituted  a  National  Central  Executive  Union  committee: 

Anthony  Kennedy,  of  Maryland.  J.  B.  St.  John,  of  New  York. 

A.  R.  Boteler,  of  Virginia.  B.  W.  Thompson,  of  Indiana. 

Joshua  Hill,  of  Georgia.  John  Wilson,  of  Illinois. 
John  A.  Campbell,  of  North  Carolina.    James  Bishop,  of  New  Jersey. 

Robert  Mallory,  of  Kentucky.  John  A.  Rockwell,  of  Connecticut. 

Thos.  A.  K.  Nelson,  of  Tennessee.  Marshal  P.  Wilder,  of  Massachusetts. 

Henry  M.  Fuller,  of  Pennsylvania.  William  Temple,  of  Delaware. 

Several  gentlemen  spoke  of  Mr.  Everett  as  the  "Ladies'  candidate," 
and  the  ladies  were  especially  called  upon  to  persuade  their  husbands 
and  sweethearts  to  vote  for  him.  They  were  frequently  informed  that 
they  must  remember  how  assiduously  he  had  labored  for  them  in  the 
Mount  Vernon  business;  while  the  rest  of  mankind  were  informed  that 
while  engaged  in  that  business  he  had  become  wonderfully  imbued  with 
the  spirit  of  Washington. 

Among  the  glowing  compliments  paid  Mr.  Everett  was  the  following, 
by  Mr.  Watson  of  Mississippi  : 

"  1  have  made  the  remark  again  and  again,  that  Edward  Everett  was 
at  this  moment  better  known  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  this 
land  than  any  other  living  being  at  this  good  hour.     [Applause.] 

"  I  have  been  told  that  every  man  was  familiar  with  bis  name.  I  say 
that  not  only  every  man,  but  every  lady  is  familiar  with  his  name ;  and 
not  only  every  lady,  but  every  child  is  familiar  with  his  name ;  and 
every  school-boy  has  recited  his  glowing  eloquence  again  and  again. 
You  may  take  his  record  up  from  first  to  last,  and  see  his  patriotism  in 
his  antecedents.  His  ability  is  matchless,  and  above  all,  his  virtue  is 
fearless  in  every  sense  of  the  word.  [Applause.]  That  man  has 
studied  the  character  of  Washington,  and  in  his  studying,  he  has  drawn 
in  an  inspiration  that  has  so  purided  and  elevated  his  patriotism  that  it 
is  enough  of  itself  to  save  the  Union,  were 'there  no  other  embodiment 
of  patriotism  within  our  limits."     [Applause.] 

It  wa.'*  remarkable,  and  I  shall  not  say  it  was  not  a  refreshing  fact, 
that  the  Covention  avoided  altogether  the  discussion  of  the  slavery  ques- 
tion. It  was  only  referred  to  by  indirection.  Hon.  Neil  S.  Brown  of 
Tennessee  thanked  God  that  he  had  at  last  found  a  Convention  in  which 
the  "  nigger"  was  not  the  sole  subject  of  consideration.  Not  a  word 
was  said  from  first  to  last  about  the  question  of  slavery  in  the  Territo- 
ries, or  the  execution  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  law,  and  old  John  Brown 
was  only  referred  to  a  couple  of  times. 

And  there  was  nothing  said  of  Americanism — not  a  word.  The 
Hon.  Erastus  Brooks  declared  that  the  Convention  was  of  a  new  party, 
a  party  only  six  months  old,  and  that  all  old  party  affiliations  were  sub- 
mero-ed.  The  whole  talk  was  of  the  Constitution,  the  Union  and  the 
laws,  of  harmony,  fraternity,  compromise,  conciliation,  peace,  good  will, 
common  gl"ry,  national  brotherhood,  preservation  of  the  confederacy. 
And  of  all  these  things  it  seemed  to  he  understood  the  Cctnvention  had 
a  monopoly.     The  Constitution,  the  Union,  and  peace  between  the  sec- 


120 

tions  would  appear  from  the  rcconl  of  proceedings  to  be  in  the  exclu- 
sive care  of,  and  the  pei;uliar  institutions  of,  the  uo-partj  and  no-platform 
gentlemen  here  a^-femhled. 

The  Convention  ailj  mrncd  in  h'j^h  P|)irit.-j. 

At  night  a  ralidca'ii'n  meeting  was  held  in  Monument  Hti'iare.  An 
extraordinarilj  large  and  elaborate  stage  was  erected.  Thi-rc  was  a 
platform  for  the  speakers  and  musicians.  Upon  each  flank  of  this  was 
a  tower  near  thirty  feet  in  height,  each  tower  bearing  a  flag-htaff  from 
which  the  celebrated  flag  of  our  country  streamed.  In  front  of  one  of 
the  towers  was  a  likene.-s  of  Washington,  and  Clay  adorned  the  other. 
On  one  tower  appeared  the  name  of  John  Bell,  on  the  other  that  of 
Edward  Everett.  An  arch  sf»anned  the  platform,  inscribed,  *'  The 
Union,  the  Constitntion,  and  i/ie  JKvforcement  of  the  Latcs.*'  Cir- 
cling above  the  inscription  wore  the  cuats  of  arms  of  the  8t:ites.  The 
centre  of  the  arch  was  intended  for  the  American  Eagle.  But  a  suita- 
ble bird  could  not  be  procured  to  perch  in  that  exalted  place,  and  a  few 
small  flags  were  substituted.  The  wh(de  thing  was  decorated  by  lamps, 
and  presented  an  exceidingly  brilliant  appearance.  I  imagine  that 
nothing  more  complete  in  design,  or  elaborate  in  execution,  was  ever  in 
the  United  States  constructed  to  serve  a  similar  purpose. 


THE  CHICAGO  CONVENTION. 


CniCA(50,  May  15. 

Leaving  BiHtinoore  in  a  flood  we  found  the  West  afflicted  with  a  drouth. 
At  one  end  of  the  journey,  there  was  a  torrent  tearing  down  every  ra- 
vine ;  at  the  other  there  was  a  f  >g  of  dust  all  along  the  road. 

The  incidents  of  the  trip  were  a  land-slide  on  the  Pennsylvania  Cen- 
tral, and  the  unplcasantne.ss  of  being  behind  time  to  the  extent  of  six 
hours  on  the  Pittslturgh,  Fort  Wayne  and  Chicago.  The  detention  was 
occasioned  by  the  fact  of  the  train  consisting  of  thirteen  cars  full  of 
"  irrepressibles."  I  regret  to  say  that  most  of  the  company  were  "  un- 
sound," and  rather  disposed  to  boast  of  that  fact. 

The  dtfTerence  between  the  country  passed  over  between  Baltimore 
and  Chicago,  ami  that  between  Louisville  and  Baltimore,  by  way  of 
Charleston,  is  greatly  in  favor  of  the  former.  I  have  not  had  any  dis- 
position to  speak  in  disparaging  terms  of  the  Southern  country,  but  it 
is  the  plain  truth  that  the  country  visible  along  the  road  from  Baltimore 
to  Ilarrisburg  alone,  is  worth  more  by  far  than  all  that  can  l>e  seen  from 
Charleston  to  the  Potomac,  Li  the  Soutli  few  atteujpts  have  been  n)ade 
to  cultivate  any  lands  other  than  thn.sc  most  favorably  situated,  and  most 
rich.  But  in  Pennsylvania,  free  labor  has  made  not  only  the  valleys 
bloom,  but  the  hill-tops  are  radiant  with  clover  and  wheat.     And  there 


121 

are  many  other  things  that  rush  upon  the  sight  in  the  North  as  contrast- 
ed with  the  South,  that  testify  to  the  paramount  glory  of  free  labor. 

And  while  pui>uing  the  path  of  perfect  candor  in  all  these  matters, 
it  becomes  ntcessury  to  say  that  the  quantity  of  whiskey  and  other  ardent 
beverages  consumed  on  the  train  in  which  I  readied  this  city,  was  much 
greater  than  on  any  train  that  within  my  knowledge  entered  Charleston 
during  Convention  times.  The  number  of  jirivate  bottles  on  our  train 
last  night  was  something  surprising.  A  portion  of  the  Republicans  are 
distressed  by  what  they  see  and  hear  of  the  disposition  to  use  ardent 
spirits  which  appears  in  members  of  their  supposed  to  be  painfully  vir- 
tuous party.  And  our  Western  Reserve  was  thrown  in*o  prayers  and 
perspiration  last  night  by  some  New  Yorkers,  who  were  singing  songs 
not  found  in  hymn-books.  Others  are  glad  to  have  the  co-operation  of 
Capt.  Whiskey,  and  hail  the  ftict  of  the  enlistment  of  that  distinguished 
partisan  as  an  evidence  that  the  Republicans  are  imbihing  the  spirit  as 
well  as  the  substance  of  the  old  Democratic  party.  I  do  not  wish,  how- 
ever, to  convey  the  impression  that  drunkenue.-s  prevails  here  to  an  ex- 
tent very  unusual  in  National  Conventions,  for  that  would  be  doing  an 
injustice.  I  do  not  feel  competent  to  state  the  precise  proportions  of 
those  who  are  drunk,  and  those  who  are  sober.  There  are  a  large  num- 
ber of  both  classes  ;-and  the  drunken  are  of  course  the  most  demonstra- 
tive, and  according  to  the  principle  of  the  numerical  force  of  the  black 
sheep  in  a  flnck,  are  most  multitudiaous. 

The  crowd  is  this  evening  becoming  prodigious.  The  Tremont  House 
is  so  crammed  that  it  is  with  much  difficulty  people  get  about  in  it  from 
one  room  to  another.  Near  fifteen  hundred  people  will  sleep  in  it  to- 
night. The  principal  lions  in  this  house  are  Horace  Greeley  and  Frank 
P.  Blair,  Sen.  The  way  Greeley  is  stared  at  as  he  shuffles  about, 
looking  as  innocent  as  ever,  is  itself  a  sight.  Whenever  he  appears 
there  is  a  crowd  gaping  at  him,  and  if  he  stops  to  talk  a  minute  with 
some  one  who  wishes  to  consult  him  as  the  oracle,  the  crowd  becomes 
dense  as  possible,  and  there  is  the  most  eager  desire  to  hear  the  words 
of  wisdom  that  are  supposed  to  fall  on  such  occasions. 

The  curio-ity  of  the  town — next  to  the  "  wigwam  " — is  a  bowie-knife 
seven  feet  long,  weighing  over  forty  pounds.  It  bears  on  one  side  the 
inscription,  "  Presented  to  John  F.  Potter  hy  the  Republicans  of  Mis- 
souri.^' On  the  other  side  is  this  motto,  "  Will  always  keep  a  '  Pryor  ' 
enyagement.''  This  curiosity  is  gaped  at  almost  as  much  as  Greeley, 
and  it  is  a  strange  and  dreadful  looking  concern.  It  is  to  be  formally 
presented  to  Potter  at  Washington,  by  a  committee  from  Missouri. 

The  city  of  Chicago  is  attending  to  this  Convention  in  magnificent 
style.  It  is  a  great  place  for  large  hotels,  and  all  have  their  capacity 
for  accommodation  tested.  The  great  feature  is  the  Wigioam,  erected 
within  the  past  month,  expressly  for  the  use  of  the  Convention,  Tby  the 
Republicans  of  Chicago,  at  a  cost  of  seven  thousand  dollars.  It  is  a 
small  edition  of  the  New  York  Crystal  Palace,  built  of  boards,  and 
will  hold  ten  thousand  persons  comfortably — and  is  admirable  fur  its  ac- 
coustic  excelltnre.  An  ordinary  voice  can  be  heard  through  the  whole 
structure  with  ease. 


122 

The  political  news  is  the  utter  failure  of  the  Ohio  delegation  to 
come  to  any  agreement,  and  the  loss  of  influence  by  that  State. 

Chicago,  May  IGtb. 

This  is  the  morning  of  the  first  day  of  the  Convention.  The  crowd 
is  prodigious.  The  hotel  keepers  say  there  are  more  people  here  now 
than  during  the  National  Fair  last  year,  and  then  it  was  esiiinaied  that 
thirty  thousand  strangirs  were  in  the  city.  This  figure  was  jjrobably 
too  high,  but  there  are,  beyond  doubt,  more  than  twent)-fivc  thousand 
persons  here  in  attendance  upon  the  Convention.  This  is  a  great  place 
for  hotels,  and  the  multitude  is  fortunately  distributed  through  them  all 
over  the  town.  There  are  only  a  few  points  where  the  jam  is  painfully 
close.  One  of  those  places  is  the  Tretnont  House,  where  about  fifteen 
hundred  persons  are  stowed  away,  and  which  is  the  focus  of  political 
excitement. 

As  in  the  case  of  all  other  Conventions,  the  amount  of  idle  talking 
that  is  done,  is  amazing.  Men  gather  in  little  groups,  and  with  their 
arms  about  each  other,  and  chatter  and  whisper  as  if  the  fate  of  the 
coimtry  depended  upon  their  immediate  delivery  of  the  mighty  potitical 
secrets  with  which  their  imaginations  are  big.  There  are  a  thousand  ru- 
mors afloat,  and  things  of  incalculable  moment  are  communicated  to 
you  confidentially,  at  mtervals  of  five  minutes.  There  are  now  at  least 
a  thousand  men  packed  together  in  the  halls  of  the  Treniont  House, 
crushing  each  other's  ribs,  tramping  each  other's  toes,  and  titillating 
each  other  with  the  gossip  of  the  day  ;  and  the  probability  is,  not  one 
is  possessed  of  a  single  political  fact  not  known  to  the  whole,  which  is 
of  the  slightest  consequence  to  any  human   beingj_ 

The  current  of  the  universal  twaddle  this  morning  is,  that  "  Old 
Abe"  will  be  the  nominee. 

The  Bates  movement,  the  McLean  movement,  the  Cameron  move- 
ment, the  Banks  movement,  are  all  nowhere.  They  have  gone  down 
like  lead  in  the  mighiy  waters.  "  Old  Abe  '  and  "  Old  Bi-n  "  are  in 
the  field  against  Seward.  Abe  and  Ben  are  representatives  of  the  con- 
servatism, (he  respectability,  the  availability,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing. 

The  out-and-out  friends  of  Mr.  Chase  here  are  very  much  embittered 
agaiiist  the  Wade  movement.  They  are  mistaken  about  it  in  some  par- 
ticulars. While  this  movement  has  certainly  been  used  to  slaughter 
Mr.  Chase,  it  was  not,  in  my  judgment,  originated  with  any  tuch  pur- 
pose 

The  roonq  mates,  the  pleasure  of  whose  society  I  have  the  pleasure 
of  enjoying,  were  in  magnificent  condition  last  night.  They  were 
"  glorious," — "  o'er  all  the  ills  of  life  victorious,'  and,  to  use  the  ex- 
pression which  is  here  in  every  body's  mouth  every  minute,  they  were 
irrepressil)le  until  a  late  hour.  And  this  morning  I  was  aroused  by  a 
Vehement  debate  among  them,  and  rubbing  my  eyes,  discovered  that 
they  were  sitting  up  in  bed  playing  cards  to  see  who  should  pay  for  gin 
cock-tails  all  around,  the  cock-tails  being  an  indispensable  preliminary  to 
breakfast. 

The  badges  of  different  candidates  are  making  their  appearance,  and 
a  good  many  of  the   dunces  of  the  occasion   go  about   duly  labeled.      I 


123 


saw  an  old  man  this  morning  with  a  wood-cut  of  Edward  Bates  pasted 
outside  his  hat.  The  Stward  men  have  badges  of  silk  with  bis  hkeness 
and  name,  and  some  wag  pinned  one  of  them  to  Horace  Greeley's  back 
yesterday,  and  he  (.reated  even  an  unusual  sensation  as  he  hitched  about 
with  the  Seward  mark  upon  bira. 

The  hour  for  the  meeting  of  the  Convention  approaches,  and  the  agi- 
tation of  the  city  is  exceedingly  great.  Vast  as  the  wigwam  is,  not  one- 
fifth  of  those  who  would  be  glad  to  get  inside  can  be  accommodated. 


FIRST    DAY. 

OFFICIAL  ROLL  OF  THE  CONVENTION. 

The  following  is  the  Official  Eoll  of  the  delegates  admitted  to  seats 
in  the  Conveuiion  : 


PRESIDENT. 

Hon.  GEO.  ASUMUN,  of  Mawachugetta. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

California— A.  A.  Sargent.  ^ 

Connecticut— C.  F.  Cleveland. 

Delaware — John  C.  Clark. 

lovra- H.  P.  Scholte. 

Illinois — David  Davis. 

Indiana — John  Beard. 

Kentucky— \V.  D.  Gallagher. 

Maine— Samuel  F.  Hersey. 

Maryland — Wm.  L.  Marshall. 

Massachusetts— Ensign  U   Kellogg. 

Michigan— Thonia*  White  Kerry. 

Minnesota— Aaron  Goodrich. 

Missouri — Henry  T.  Dlow. 

New  York— Wm.  Curtis  Noyes. 

New  Jersey— E.  Y.  Kogers. 

New  Hampshire — Woi   Halle. 

Ohio— Geo.  D.  Burgess. 

Oregon — Joel  Burlingame. 

Pennsylvania — ThaU.  Stevens. 

Kbode  Island— Rowland  G.  Hazard. 

Texas— Wm.  T.  Chandler. 

Vermont — Wm.  Hebord. 

Virginia  — R.  Crawford. 

Wisconsin — Hans  Crocker. 

Nebraska— A.  S.  Paddock. 

Kansas— W.  W.  Hoss 

District  of  Columbia— Geo.  Harrington. 

SECRETARIES. 

California— D.  .7.  Staples. 
Connecticut— H   II.  s-tiirkweather. 
Delaware — B  J.  Hopkins. 
Iowa — William  B.  Allison. 
Illinois— 0.  L   Davis. 
Indiana — Daniel  D    Pratt. 
Kentucky— Stephen  J.  Howes. 
Maine — C.  A.  Wing. 
Maryland — William  E.  Coale. 
Massachusetts — Charles  0   Kogers. 
Michigan-  W.  S.  Stou>,'hton. 
Minnesota — D.  A.  ?e<'ouibe. 
Missouri— J.  K.  Kidd. 
New  York — Geo.  W.  Curtis. 
New  Jersey — Edward  Brettle. 


New  Hampshire — Nathan  Hubbard. 
Ohio— N.  J.  Beebe. 
Oregon — Eli  Thayer. 
Pennsylvania — J.  B.  Serrill. 
Rhode  Island — II.  II.  Uazjird,  jr. 
Texas — Dunbar  Henderson. 
Vermont — John  W.  Stewart. 
Wisconsin — L.  F.  Fri^by. 
Kansas— John  A.  Martin. 
Nebraska— H.  P.  Hitchcock. 

DELEGATES. 

MAINE — EIGHT   VOTES. 

At  Large. 

George  F.  Talbot,  JIachias. 
V  iUiam  H   McCrillis,  Bangor. 
.Tohn  L.  Stevens,  .\ugusta. 
Rensellaer  Cram,  Poi  tland. 
Distrirtx. 

1  Mark  F.  Wentworth,  Kitery. 
Leonard  Andrews,  liiddeford. 

2  Charles  J.  Oilman,  Brunswick. 
Seward  Dill,  Phillips. 

8  Nathan  G.  Hichborn,  Stockton. 
George  W.  Lawrence,  Warren. 

4  C.  A   VVing,  Wiuthrop. 
J.  S.  Baker,  Bath. 

5  Samuel  F.  Hersey,  Bangor. 
Going  Hathorn,  Pitt.«field. 

6  John  West,  Franklin. 
Washington  Long,  Fort  Fairfield. 

NEW   HAMPSUIBE— nVB  VOTES. 

Ai  Large. 
Hon.  Edward  II.  Rollins. 
Hon.  Aaron  H.  Oagin. 
Hon.  William  Haile. 
Hon.  Amos  Tuck. 

Delegatu 

1  Nathaniel  Hubbard. 
George  Matthewson. 

2  B.  F.  Martin. 
F   H.  Morgan. 

8  Jacob  Benton. 
Jacob  C.  Bean. 


124 


TUIMOST— FIVE   VOTES. 
At  Large. 
E.  N.  Brifrp,  BrnnJon 
Pef^rT.  Washburn,  Mood-tock. 
B.  D.  SlACon,  Kii-hiimnd. 
K.  C.  Kediiigtou.  .St.  Jobnsbury. 

Diflrirtf. 

1  John  W  StowRrt,  Middlebury. 
E.  II.  Rurton,  Munrhesr^r. 

2  Hugh  II.  Henry,  (:he.'<t«r. 
Wm.  Hebord,  Chelm-a. 

3  Wm.  Oliipp,  St    AlbHns. 
E.  B.  Saw>er,  II} de  I'lirk. 

MA88ACHU8ETT8 — THIRTEEN   VOTES. 

A'  Large. 
John  A.  Andrew,  Bo.oton. 
Ensign  II.  Kellogir,  Pitt.'.field. 
George  S.  nourwell.  Groton. 
Liniui  B.  Coming,  Boston. 

Districts. 

1  Joseph  M.  Day,  Barnstable. 
Jonathan  Bourne,  jr  ,  New  Bedford. 

2  HobertT.  DrtIh,  Kail  Kiver. 
Seth  Webb,  jr.,  Scituate. 

3  Edward  L.  Pierre,  Milton. 
William  Clatlin,  Newton. 

4  Charle.'f  0.  l{ot;ers.  Barton. 
Josiah  Dunham,  Boxron. 

5  Samuel  Hooper,  Boston. 

George  William  MrLellan,  Cambridge. 

6  Timothy  Davi.s,  (!loure,ster. 
Eben  F.  Stone,  .Newburvport. 

7  George  Cogswell,  Bradford. 
Timothy  Winn,  Woburn. 

8  Theodore  II   Sweet'^er.  Lowell. 
John  S.  Keves.  Concord. 

9  John  D.  Baldwin,  Worcester. 
Edward  B.  Bigt-low,  Orufton. 

10  John  Wells,  Chicopee. 
Erastus  Hopkins,  Northampton. 

11  John  U.  Coffin.  Great  Barrington. 
Matthew  D.  Vield,  Southwick. 

RHODE   ISLAND — FOUR   VOTES. 
At  L/trgf. 

James  K.  Simmonp,  IT.  S.  Senate. 
Nathaniel  B.  Durfee,  Tiverton. 
Benedict  Laphaui.  Centruville. 
W.U.  S.  Bay  ley,  Bri.siol. 

Di.UrictS. 

1  Benjamin  T.  Fames,   Providence. 
Howland  K.  Hazard,  jr..  .Newport. 

2  Bowland  G.  IlHzard,  I'earcdale. 
Simon  Uenry  Greene,  l'heui.x. 

COSNECTICUT— SIX   VOTES. 

At  Large. 
Gidwn  Wollci.  Hartford 
Kleazer  K.  Foster,  New  Haven. 
Chuunrey  F    Cleveland,  Hampton. 
Alexander  U.  UoUey,  Suliabury. 

Di.ftrirts. 

1  Samuel  Q.  Porter,  Unlnnville  P.  0. 
Ixjverett  E.  Peajie,  .''omers. 

2  Stephen  W.  Kelloirg.    U  aterbury. 
Arthur  B   Calef.  .Mid.lletown. 

3  David  Gallup,  IMainfield. 

Henry  H.  Starkweather.  Norwich. 

4  Edgar  S.  TweiKly,  Danburv. 
George  U.  Noble,  New  Miiford. 


HEW  TOaK — THIBTT-IITE  TIT« 
At   Lar^t. 
William  M.  Evart«,  New  York. 
Preston  King,  Ogdensburih. 
John  h.  Schoolcraft,  Albany. 
Henry  R.  Seldeu,  tlochehter. 
Districts. 

1  George  W.  Cnrtia,  New  York. 
Ilobert  L.  Meek*,  Janiaica,  L.  T. 

2  JameK  S.  T.  Stranahan,  Itrooklyn. 
Henry  A.  Kent,  Brooklyn. 

3  John  A.  Kennedy,  New  York. 
John  A.  King.  Jamaica 

4  Owen  W.  Brennan,  New  York. 
Bobert  T.  Uawti,  New  York. 

5  Thomas  Murphy,  New  York. 
Charles  M.  Briggs,  Williamsburg. 

6  Jo.««;ph  C.  Pinckney,  New  York. 
.Marshall  B.  Blake,  do 

7  Daniel  D.  Conover,  do 
John  Keyser,  do 

8  Wm.  Curtis  Noyes,  do 
James  W.  Nye,                    do 

9  Edmund  J    Porter,  New  Kochelle. 
John  G.  Miller,  Caruiel. 

10  Ambro.se  S.  Murray,  Go.shen. 

(;.  V   R.  Luddington,  Montjcello. 

11  Peter  Crispell,  jr. 
Henry  Green. 

12  Albert  Van  Kleeck,  Pnughkeepsie. 
John  T.  Hogeboom.  Ghent. 

13  Jonathan   \V.  Freeman. 
Gideon  Kevnolds.  Trov. 

14  II.  II.  Van"  Dyck,  Albany. 
Henry  A.  Brigham,  \>  est  Troy. 

15  Edward  Dodd.  Aigxle. 

Ja.s.  W.  Schenck,  GlensAdls. 

16  Orlando  Kellogg. 
Wm.  Hedding. 

17  John  H    W'ooiiter,  Newport. 
A.  B.  James,  Ogdensburph. 

18  Henry  Churchill,  Gloversville. 
Thomas  R.  Horton,  Fultonville. 

19  Horatio  N.  Buckley,  Delhi. 
Samuel  J.  Cooke. 

20  Palmer  V.  Kellogg,  Ctica. 
Henry  U.  Fish,  L'tica. 

21  Giles  W.  Hotchki.ss,  Binghamton. 
Benj.  S.  Bexford,  Norwich. 

22  Samuel  F.  Catse,  Fulion. 
Bobt.  Stewart,  Chitten  ngo. 

23  Jsaac  H.  Fiske,  Wniertowu. 
Hiram  Porter,  Louisville. 

24  Vivus  W.  Smith,  Syracuse. 

D.  C   Greenfield.  Baldwinsville. 

25  Alex   B.  Williams,  L>oii.s 
Theodore  M.  Pomeroy.  Auburn. 

26  Obadiah  B.  Latham.  Seneca  Kails. 
Charles  C.  Shepard,  Penii  Van. 

27  Wm.  W.  Shepard,  Waverly. 
Geo.  W.  Schuyler,  Ilbaca. 

28  Wm.  Scott,  Geneseo. 
SU'phen  T,  Havt,  Corning. 

29  D.  U.  S.  Browne,  Rochester. 
Alexander  Babcwk,  Itochester. 

80  Joshua  H.  Darling,  W  arsaw. 
John  H.  Kimbirly.  Uatavia. 

31  Wm.  Keep,  Lm-kport. 
Noah  Davis,  jr..  .Mbion. 

32  Alexander  W.  Harvey,  BufTalo. 
Joseph  Candee,  do 

33  Aloiizo  Kent,  EUicottvillo. 
Dolog  E.  Sill,  do 

NEW  JER8ET  — SEVEN    VOTES. 

At  Large. 
Jamea  T.  Sherman,  Trenton. 
Thomao  U.  Dudley,  Camden. 


125 


Edward  Y.  Rogers.  Rahway. 
Ephraim  Marsli.  Jersey  City. 
F.  T.  Frelingliuysen,  Newark. 
Jonathan  I'ook.  Trenton. 
Dudley  S.  Gifgnry,  Jersey  City. 
John  J.  Blair,  Blairtowa. 

DiUricts. 

1  ProvideDce  I.udlam,  Bridgeton. 
Robert  K.  Marrook,  Woodbury. 
Edward  Biettle,  Camden. 
Jonathan  D.  Ihgham,  Salem. 

2  Archibald  11   Pharo,  Tuckerton. 
Stephen  B   .<ni!th,  Pennington. 
Amzi  C.  McLean,  Freehold. 
Bernard  Counolly,     do 

3  A.  P.  Bethniide,  W.ofihiDgton. 
A.  N.  Voorliees,  Clinton. 
Wm.  D.  Uaicinian,  Janesville. 
Moses  F   Webb,  New  Brunswick. 

4  Heury  M   Low,  Paterson. 
Wm.  G.  Lathrop,  IJoouton. 
Thomas  Ciiniming,  Hackensack. 
Ileury  B.  Crosby,  Paterson. 

5  Hugh  H.  Eowne.  Kahway. 
II.  N.  Cong;ir,  Newark. 
Marcus  L    i\ard,  Newark. 
Denning  Duer,  NV'eehawken. 

PENNSTI.VANU — TWENTT-SEVBN   V0TE8. 

At  Large. 
David  Wilmot,  Towanda. 
Samuel  A.  I'urviance.  Pittsburgh. 
Thaddeus  Stevens.  Lancaster. 
John  li.  ICwing,  Washington. 
Henry  D    Moure,  Philadelphia. 
Andrew  H    Keoder,  Easton. 
Titian  J   Coffee,  Pittsburgh. 
Morrow  B.  Lowry,  Erie. 

Dislricts. 

1  John  M.  Butler,  Philadelphia. 
Elias  Ward,  do 

J.  Money.  do 

Wm.  Elliott,  do 

2  Geo.  A.  (  olTce,  do 
Richard  Kills,  do 
Francis  Blackburn,  do 
John  M.  Puniroy,  do 

3  Wm.  B.  Mann,  do 
James  M'.Manus,  do 
Bcnj.  H.  lirowu,  do 
George  Itt-ad,  do 

4  A.  C.  lioberts,  do 
Wm.  II  Ki'rn,  do 
Wm.  D.  Kelly,  do 
M.  S.  Burkley,  Richmond. 

B  James  Hoovin,  Norristown. 
Dr.  C.  M.  .iHckson,  Philadelphia. 
William  l>.  I'homas.  Philadelphia. 
George  W.  Huniroy,  Philadelphia. 

6  John  M.  Uroomal,  Chester. 
Washington  Townsend,  West  Chester. 
Joseph  .).  Lewis,  West  Chester. 
Jacob  S  .^errill,  Darby. 

7  Caleb  N.  1  ;n  lor,  Bristol. 
Joseph  Viinig,  Allen  Town. 
George  Uii.-<f  1,  Allen  Town. 
Henry  J.  8ai'ger,  Allen  Town. 

8  Isaac  EcKert,  Itedding. 
David  K.  siout,  Itedding. 
J.  Knabb.  Itedding. 

J.  Bowiiiitn  Bell.  ICedding. 

9  0.  J.  Dic-ke\,  Lancaster. 
C.  S.  Kauirii.:tn,  Columbia. 
Samuel  .*^ioch,  Columbia. 
Jos.  D.  Pownall,  Christiana. 

10  G.  Dawson  Coleman,  Lebanon. 
Levi  KUue,  Lebanon. 


Jos   Casey,  Harrisburg. 
Wm.  Cameron.  Loui.-burg. 

11  Robert  M.  Palmer,  Pottsville. 
Jacob  G.  Frick,  Pottsville. 

S.  A.  Bergstresser,  Elysburg 
Wm.  C   Law.si)n.  Milton. 

12  W.  W.  Kctchum,  W  ilkesbarre. 
P.  M.  Osterhout,  Junkhanncck. 
Frank  Stewart,  Berwick. 
Davis  Alton,  Caibondale. 

13  Chas.  Albright,  .Mauch  Chunk. 
Wm.  Davis,  Stroud>burg. 

W.  U.  Armstrong,  Eustou. 
Sam'l  E.  Dimmick,  Honesdale. 

14  H.  W.  Tracy,  .^ihhuihk  -^  One. 
Hon  Wm.  jessup,  .Montro.se. 
F.  E.Smith,  Tio(ja  I'oirit. 

Dr.  Abel  Humphreys.  Tioga  Point. 

15  Wm.  Butler,  Lewistnn 

B.  Rush  Peterliin.  L  'Ckhaven. 
Lindsay  Mehalley,  Ne*  i  erry. 
G   B.  Overton,  I  oudersport. 

16  Kirk  Haines.  Sliller.-ito*n. 
W.  B.  Irvin,  Meclianicsburg. 
Ale.x.  J.  Fiey    Yoik. 

Jacob  S.  Haideman.  New  Cumberland. 

17  Wm.  M'Clollan.  (  hambersbuig. 
D.  MCaunaghy.  Getty  sliurg. 
John  J.  I'attersiin    Aca'lemin. 
Francis  Jdrilan  B<-rtf..id. 

18  A.  A.  Barker,  El  e  i.shurg. 

S.  M.  Green,  Bailey's'Forge. 
L.  W.  Hall.  Altoi.na. 
Wm.  H.  Koons,  Sunierset. 

19  AV.  M.  Stewart.  IndiHna. 
Darwin  E   Phelps,  Kittaning. 
Addison  Le^ch.  l.eecliburg. 
D.  W.  Shryok,  (ir  e  sburg. 

20  Andrew  Stewart.  Uni<miown. 
Smith  Fuller.  Uninntnwn. 
Alex.  Murdoch,   Wiislnngton. 
Wm.  E.  Gapen,  W;iyne>burg. 

21  Wm.  H.  Mersh.  Pittsburgh. 
Col.  James  A.  Ekin    Elizabeth. 
John  F.  Hravo   Mcls'eesport. 

J.  J.  Siebeneck,  Pittsburgh. 

22  D.  N.  Wl,ite,.-e«ick  ev. 
.'-teplien  H.  Guyer.  Alleghany  City. 
John  N.  Purviance    Butler  county. 
W.  L.  Graham.  Butler  county. 

23  L.  L.  McGuffin,  New  Castle. 
David  Craig   .Newcastle. 
Wm.  G.  Brown,  .VIereer. 
John  Allison,   New  Brighton. 

24  Henry  Souther    Kiilgway. 
S.  P.  Johnston.  Warren. 
Jas.  S.  Meyers,  Franklin. 
D.  C.  Gillaspie,  Brooklyn. 

25  B.  B.  Viuceut,  Erie. 
Thnmas  J.  Devoie,  Brie. 
J.  C.  Hayes.  Meadville. 

S.  Newton  Pettis,  lleadville. 

DELAWARE — THREK   VOTES. 

Nathaniel  B.  Sinitlurs,  Duver. 
John  C.  Clark.  Iielaware  City. 
Benjamin  (;.  Uopkin  Vernon. 
Lewes  Thompsun,  i  l^asant  Hill. 
Joshua  T.  HeaM,  Wrlruington. 
Alfred  Short,  .Mill.ud. 

MARYLAND— IIGHT   VOTES. 

At  Liirge. 
Frauci."!  P   Blair,  \V,i..liinKton,  D.  C. 
Wm.  L.  Marsirall.  li.iltimure. 

Districts, 

1  .Tames  Bryan,   Cam  bridge. 

2  James  Jeilery,  CUurciiville. 


126 


Wm    P.  Ewinit.  Flktnn. 

3  Krnncin  S   C'orkrao.  Bnltimore. 
James  K.  WaKiit-r    Raltiinure. 

4  Wm.  E.  Coale.  Haltimore. 

6  Cfaaa.  Vee  Armour,  Krprterick. 
6  Montgomery  Hluir    Wa^hioglon,  D.  C. 
D.  S.  Oram,  Cburcli  Creek. 

vnuannu— pifTKE;*  totis. 

At  Large. 
AlfreiJ  Caldwell,  Wheeling. 
v..  M    Norton,  do 

W.  W.  Gitt,   Montenmery  Co.  Court  House. 
J.  C.  Underwood,  Clark  Co.  do 

Districts. 

1  Jacob  HombronW,  Wbeeling. 
J   G.  Jacob,  Wellxbiirgh. 
Joseph  Apjilegale,  Wel.-burgh. 

2  A.  G.  Robinson,  Wheeling. 
R.  Crawford,  do 

3  Thos.  Hornbrook,      do 
J.  M.  Pumphrey.       do 

4  R.  H.  Gray,  Lynchburg. 
F.  D.  Norton,  Wheeling. 

5  John  Underwood,  Prince  William  Court  H. 
J.  B.  Brown.  Alexandria. 

6  W.  J.  Blackwo<id,  Clark  Co.  Court  House. 
J.  T.  Freeman,  Hancock  Court  House. 

7  A.  W.  Campbrll.  Wheeling. 
D.  W.  Robert-",  Morijantown. 

8  W.  E.  Stevenson,  I'arkersburg. 
S.  M.  Peterfion,  do 

S.  H.  Woodward,  Wheeling. 

9  James  WiUson,  do 

OHIO— TWEXTTTHRSE   VOTES 
At  Large. 
Hon.  P.  K.  Cartter,  Cleveland. 
Hon.  V   B.  Horton,  Pomeroy. 
Hon   Thomas  Spooner,  Rediiing. 
Hon.  Conrad  Broadbeck,  Dayton. 

Districts. 

1  Benj.  Eggleoton,  Cincinnati. 
Fred.  Ha!Sf<aureck,      do 

2  R   M.  Corwine,  do 
Joseph  H.  Barrett,      do 

3  Wm    Beckef,  Hamilton. 
P.  P   I<owe,  l>«v»on. 

4  G.  D.  Burges-.Troy. 
John  E.  CummincR.  Sidney. 

5  David  Taylor,  defiance. 
E.  Graham,  Perrybnrg. 

6  John  M.  Barrere'  New  Market. 
Reeder  W   (larke.  Batavia. 

7  Hon.  Thoa.  Corwin,  Lebanon. 
A    Hivling,  Xenia, 

S  W.  H.  West,  Bellefontaine. 

I,evi  Geiger   I'rbana. 
tf  I':arl  Bill.  TifTin. 

I).  W.  Swiifart,   Bucvrus. 

10  J    V.  KobinKon,  jr.,  Portsmouth 
Milton  L   CUirk,  Cl.illicothe. 

11  N.  H.  Van  Vorhees.  Athens. 
A.  C.  Sand-,  7,ela->ki. 

12  Willard  Warner,  Newark. 
Jonathan  Remck,  Circleville. 

13  John  J.  Gurley,  Mt   Gilead. 
P.  N.  Schuyler.  Nor«Hlk. 

14  James  Monroe,  ()b«'rlin. 
O.  U.  Harn,  Wooster. 

15  Hon.  Columbus  Delano,  Mt.  Vernou 
R.  K.  EnoK,  milersburg. 

lU  Daniel  Applecate    /anesviUe. 
Caleb  A.  Williams,  Cliestertield. 

17  C.  J.  Allbiight,  Canibri.'ge. 
Wm    Wallace.  Martin's  Ferry. 

18  U.  Y.  Be«be,  Ravenna 


Isaac  Steene,  Maoillnn. 

19  Robt.  F.  Paine,  Hereland. 
R.  Hitchcock,  i'ainesvil  e. 

20  Joshua  R   Giddines.  JelTerson. 
Milton  Sutliffe,  Warren. 

21  Samuel  St^ikelv,  Steubenville. 

D.  Arter,  Carrollton. 

KXKTDOKT — TWELVE   VOTES. 
At  Large. 

Geo.  D  Blakey.  Rusn^llville. 
A.  A.  Burton,  Ijinc««ter 
Wra.  I>.  Gallagher.  Pewee  Valley. 
Charles  Uendley,  N'ewpbrt. 

Districts. 

1  Abner  Williams.  Covington. 

H   G.  (His.  Louisville 

2  Fred   Krische.  l.ouisvilie. 

E.  H    Ham-on,  McKec. 

3  Joseph  Glazehrook,  Glasgow. 
Jos.  W.  Calvert,  Bowline  Green. 

4  John  J.  Hawes.  I/>uisvill«. 
6  H.  D   Hawes,  I.ouisville. 

Lewis  M.  Dembitr.,  lx)uisville. 

6  Curtis  Kniirht,  Kingston. 
Joseph  Rawlings,  White  Hall. 

7  A.  H    Merri«ether,  Ixiuisville. 
Henry  D.  Hawes,  Loui.^ville. 

8  H.  B    Broaddus.  Ashland. 
L.  Marston,  Millersburtr. 

9  Edgar  Needham,  Louisville. 
J   S   Davis. 

10  Jas.  R.  Whittemore,  Newport. 
Hamilton  Cummings,  Covington. 

IKDIANA— TnlRTEBM   TOTES. 
At  Large. 
William  T.  Ott,  New  Albany. 
Daniel  D.  Pratt,  I/igansport. 
Caleb  B.  Smith,  ladianiipolig. 
P.  A.  Hackelman,  Rushville. 

Districts. 

1  James  C.  Veatch.  Rockport. 
C   M.  Allen,  Vincennes. 

2  Thog.  C.  >laughter,  Corydon. 
J.  H.  Butler.  Salem 

3  John  R.  Craven-,  Madison. 
A.  C   Vorhies.  Bedford. 

4  Geo.  Holland,  Brookville. 
J.  L.  Yater.  Versailles. 

5  Miles  Murphy,  Newcastle. 
Walter  March.  Muncie. 

6  S.  P.Oylrr,  Franklin. 
John  S.  Bobbs,  Indianapolis. 

7  Geo.  K.Steele,  Rockville. 

D.  C.  Dnnohue,  Green  Castle. 

8  John  Beanl,  Crawford^ville. 
J.  N.  Simms,  Frankfort. 

9  Chas.  H.  Test,  Miidg>-s  station. 
D.  H.  Hopkins,  Cro*n  Point. 

10  Geo,  Moon,  Warsaw. 
Geo.  Eramerson,  .^nijola. 

11  Wm.  W.  Connor,  Nohle-ville. 
John  M.  Wallace,  Marion. 

MICBIOAN— SIX   TOTn. 

At  Large. 

Austin  Blair.  Jackson, 
Walton  W,  Murphy,  Jonesville. 
Thos    White  Ferry,  Grand  Haven. 
J.  J,  St.  Clair,  Marquette. 

Districts, 

1  J   G,  Peterson,  Detroit. 
Alex    D   Crane,  Dexter. 

2  Jesse  G    Beoson.  Dowapiac. 
William  L.  8tooghton,  Sturgis 


127 


3  Francis  Qninn,  Niles. 
Erastus  Hussev,  Battle  Creek. 

4  1).  C.  Buckland,  I'ontia-. 

Michael  T.  C.  Ple.ssner,  Saginaw  City. 

ILLINOIS— ELEVEN   VOTES. 

At  Large. 
N.  B.  Judd,  Chicago. 
Gustavus  Koerner.  Belleville. 
David  Mavis,  Bloomiugton. 
O.  H.  Browning,  Qiiiiicy 

Districts. 

1  Jason  Marsh,  Roolvford. 

Solon  Cu minings,  Grand  de  Tour. 

2  George  t^chneider,  Cliicago. 
George  T.  Smith   Fulton. 

3  B.  C.  Cook,  Utiawa. 
O.  I..  Davis,  Danville. 

4  Henry  Grove,  Peoria. 

E.  W.  Hazard,  Gale.«burg. 

5  Wra.  Ross,  I'ittsBeld. 
Jame.s  S,  Erwin,  Mt.  Sterling. 

6  S.T.  Logan   Spiingfiold. 
N.  M.  Knapp,  Winchester. 

7  Thos.  A   Marshall,  Charle.ston. 
Wra.  1'.  Dole,  laris. 

8  K.  S.  Rutherford,  Alton. 
D.  K.  Green,  Salem. 

9  James  C.  Sloo,  Shawneetown. 
D.  L.  Phillips,  Auna. 

WISCONSIN — FIVE  VOTES. 

At  Large. 
Carl  Schurz,  Milwaukee. 
Hans  CrocUer,  Milwaukee. 
T.  B.  Stoddard,  La  Crosse. 
John  P.  Mcbiregdr,  Milwaukee. 

Districts. 

1  H.  L.  Rann,  Whitewater. 

C.  C.  Sholes,  Kenosha. 

2  M   S.  Gibson,  Hudson. 

J.  R    Bennett,  Janesville. 

3  Elisba  Morrow,  Gieen  Bay. 
L.  F.  Frisbey,  West  Bead. 

MINNESOTA— FOUB    TOTES. 

At  Large. 
John  W.  North,  North  field. 

D.  A.  Secomhe,  St.  Anthony. 
Stephen  Miller,  St.  Cloud. 

S.  P.  Jones,  Rochester. 

Districts. 

1  A.  H.  Wagcrner,  New  Ulm. 
Aaron  Goo<irich,  St.  Paul. 

2  John  MciJusicU,  Stillwater. 
Simeon  Smith,  Chaltield. 

IOWA— EIGHT  VOTES. 

At  Large. 
Wm.  Penn  Cla  k,  Iowa  City. 
L.  C   Noble,  West  Union. 
John  A.  Kasson.  Des  Moinea. 
Henry  O't'ouner,  Muscatine. 
J.  F.  Wilson,  Kaiifield. 
J.  W.  Rankin.  Keokuk. 
M.  L.  Mcl'hi-rsou,  Wintersett. 
C.  F.  Clarkson,  Metropolis. 
N.J   Rusuh,  navenport. 
H.  P.  Scholte,  Pella. 
John  Johns,  Fort  Dodge. 

Districts. 
1  Alvin  Saunders.  Mount  Pleasant. 
J.  C.  Walker,  Fort  Madison. 


2  Jos.  Caldwell,  Ottumwa. 
M.  Baker,  Cougdon. 

3  Benj.  Rector,  Sidney. 
Geo.  A   Hawley,  l.,eon. 

4  H.  M.  Hoxie,  Des  Moines. 
Jacob  Butler,  Muscatine. 

5  Thos.  Seeley,  Guthrie  Centre. 
C.  C.  Nourse,  Des  Moines. 

6  Wm.  M.Stone,  KnoxviUe. 
J.  B.  Grinnell,  Grinnell. 

7  Wm.  A.  Warjeu.  Bellevue. 
John  W   Thompson,  Davenport. 

8  John  Shane,  Vinton. 
Wm.  .Srayth,  Marion. 

9  Wm.  B.  Allison.  Dubuque. 
A.  F   Brown,  Cedar  Falls. 

10  Reuben  Noble,  Mcdegor. 
E.  G    Bowdoin,  Rockford. 

11  W.  P.  Hepburn,  Marshalltown. 
J.  J.  Brown,  Eldora. 

jaiSSODEI — NINE  VOTES. 

At  Large. 
Francis  P.  Blair,  jr.,  St.  Louis. 

B.  Gratz  Brown,  St.  Louis. 

F.  Muench,  Marihasville. 
J.  O.Sitton,  Hermann. 

Districts. 

1  P.  L.  Foy,  St.  Louis. 

C.  L.  Bernays,  St.  Louis. 

2  A   Krekle,  St   Charles. 

A.  Hammer,  St.  Loui.s. 

3  N.  T.  Doane,  Trenton. 
Asa  S.  Jones,  St.  Louis. 

4  H.  B.  Branch,  St.  Joseph. 

G.  W.  H.  Landon,  St.  Joseph. 

5  Jas.  B.  Gardenhire,  Jefferson  City. 
B.  Bruns   Jefferson  City. 

6  J.  K.  Kidd,  Linn. 

J.  M.  Richardson,  Springfield. 

7  Jas.  Lindsay,  Ironton. 
Thos.  Fletcher,  DeSo to. 

OALIFOKNIA — FODR  VOTES. 

At  Large. 

F.  P.  Tracy,  San  Francisco. 
A.  A.  Sargent,  Nevada. 

D.  W.  C'hee.seman,  O.rville. 
J.  C.  Hinckley,  Sha«ta. 

Chas.  Watrous,  San  Francisco. 
Sam.  Bell,  Mariposa. 
D.  J.  Staples,  Staples'  Branch. 
J.  R.  McDonald,  Haywards. 

OREGON — FIVE   VOTES. 

Joel  Burlingame,  Scio,  Oregon. 

Horace  Greeley,  New  Yoik  City. 

Henry  Buckingbara,  Salem,  Oregon. 

Eli  Thayer,  House  Rep's,  Washington,  D.  C 

Frauk  Johnson,  Oregon  City. 

TEXAS— SIX   VOTES. 

At  Large. 
D.  C.  Henderson,  Austin. 

G.  A.  Fitch,  Austin. 
James  P.  Scott,  .''an  Antonio. 
A.  A.  Shaw,  Little  Elm. 

Districts. 

1  Gilbert  Moyers,  Ga  veston. 

2  M.  S.  C.  Chandler,  Galveston. 

KANSAS. 

A.  C.  Wilder,  Leavenworth. 
John  A.  Martin,  Atchison. 


128 


Wm.  A.  Pliillipn,  I  awrenr«. 

W    W    R  'Ml,  To|.i'ka. 

A.  (i.  I'ri'ctor,  Kiii|>oria. 

Johu  H.  HatUTKcliiedt,  I^av^nworth. 

MEBRA8KA— SIX   TOTH. 

O    W    Irish,  NVbrasi  a  City. 
S.W.  Klljert,  llHttsmoulh 
E.  D.  Webster,  Omaha. 


John  R.  Mereilith.  Omaha. 
A   S   I'aililock,  Fort  C'lhnun. 
P.  W.  Witcbcock,  (.malia. 

DIBTRICT  or  COLCMBU. 
Geo.  ITarringtoii,  Wa-liiiij;t'  ii. 
Joneph  tier liHiill.  \Va>)iiii^liiD. 
G.  A.  Hall,  Washin|.t'>n. 
J.  A.  Wyse,  WaahiD^tun. 


•  The  Hon.  Edward  D.  Morgan  of  New  York,  Chairman  of  the 
National  Kt-puMican  P'xecutive  Committee,  called  the  Convention  to 
order,  and  read  the  call  umier  which  it  had  been  summoned.  Ho  con- 
cluded liy  nominating  the  Hon.  David  Wilmot  for  tenifKiriiry  President. 
Mr.  Wihiiot,  upon  taking  the  chair,  made  a  very  jK.sitive  anti-.>-lavery 
speech.  A  committee  on  Permanent  Organization  was  constituted/lis 
follows  : 


Maine — Leonard  Andrews. 
Vermont — Hugh  L.  U<  nry. 
New  Hanip.-^liire — Aiiroii  H.  Cragin. 
MaHPachusetts — Linus  B.  Comins. 
Connecticut — Arthur  15.  Calef. 
Rhode  l>hiiid — Sinuou  H.  Greene. 
New  York— Henry  H.  Van  Dyck. 
New  Jersiy — PLpiiraiin  Marsh. 
Pennsylvania — T.  J.  C'ollcy. 
Delaware — .Josliua  T.  Heil. 
Maryland— James  Jetfries. 
Vir};inia— Mward  M.  NortOQ. 
Ohio— V.  B.  Horlon. 
Indiana — P.  A.  Hackleman. 


niinois — William  Ropr. 
Michigan — Walter  W.  Murphy. 
Wisconsin — John  P.  .McGregor. 
Iowa— James  F.  Wilson. 
Minnesota — Simeon  Smith. 
Jlissouri — Allen  Hammer. 
Kansas— A.  C.  Wilder. 
Caliloruia — Samutl  BelL 
Oregon — Grant  Johnson. 
Kentucky — Allen  J  I{ri.>itow. 
Texas— M.  S.  C.  Chandler. 
Neliiaska— O.  H   Irish. 
District  of  Columbia — Geo.  A. 


Hall. 


A  delegate  from  Kentucky — Mr.  President,  I  would  suggest  that 
the  names  of  all  the  States  be  called.     [x\pplau.se.] 

The  Chair — Tennessee,  Arkansas,  Mis.^issippi  [great  laughter],  Lou- 
isiana. Ahiliama  [laughter  and  hissing],  Georgia,  South  Carolina 
[laughter].  North  Carolina.  [Feeble  his.-es  and  much  laughter.]  I 
believe  that  includes  the  names  of  all  the  States. 

The  comiijittee  ou  Credentials  was  made  up  as  follow.* : 


Maine — Renssellaer  Cram. 
New  Hampshire — Jacnh  IJenton. 
Vermont  —  lidwaid  C.  Uediiigton. 
Miis.<achuseits — Timothy  Davis. 
Connecticut — E.  K.  Foster. 
Rhode  Island — IJeiudiet  Lapham. 
New  York — Palnur  V.  KiUogg. 
New  Jer.sty  — Mosis  .M.  \Vel)l). 
Pennsylvania— J.  N.  I'urviance. 
Delaware—  Liwes  Thompson. 
Maryland — Wm.  E.  Cole. 
Virginia  -Jacob  Ilornbrook. 
Kentucky— Charles  lleiidley. 
Ohio  -  Samuel  Stokeley. 


Indiana — John  E.  Craven."*. 
Illinois — Stephen  T.  Logan. 
Michigan— Francis  (Juinu. 
Wisconsin — H.  L.  Uanu. 
Iowa — C.  F.  Claik.-on. 
Minnesota — John  .MetJnisick. 
Missouri — James  li.  G.irdenhire. 
Kansas — Wm.  A.  I'hillips. 
Nelira.^ka — John  1!.  .Nb  ivdith. 
Caliloruia — Chas.  \\'atr()us. 
Oregon — Joel  lUuliiigamc 
Texas — I).  C.  Henderson. 
District  ol  Columbia — James  A.  White. 


"When  the  roll  was  called  on  this  committee,  three  names  were  received 
with  great  ajiplausc — (Jrreeley  of  "  Oregon,"  Carl  Schurz,  and  Francis 
P.  Blair,  Sea.  Greeley  had  the  greatest  ovation,  and  though  there  is 
an  impression   to   the  contrary,  those  who  know  him  well,  know  that 


12^ 

nobody  is  more  fond  of  tbe  breath  of  popular  favor  than  the  philosophic 
Horace.  ^ 

The  committee  on  Business  was  constituted  as  follows : 

Maiue — John  L.  Stephens.  Indiana — Waller  iMaika. 

New  llanipbliire— B.  F.  Martin.  Micliigau — Austin  Jjlair,    ^^ 

Vermont — Edwin  D.  Mason.  Illinois — Tlios.  A.  Marshall. 

Massachusetts— Saml.  Hooper.  Wisconsin- — Elisba  Morrow. 

Connecticut — Geo.  H.  Noble.  Minnesota — S.  V.  Jones. 

Rhode  Island — Nath.  B.  Durl'ee.  Iowa — Reuben  Noble;. 

New  York — A.  B.  James.  Missouri — S.  G.  Letcher. 

New  Jer.sey — II.  N.  Congar.  Calitornia — J.  (J.  Hinckley. 

Pennsylvania — Wm.  D.  Kelly.  Oregon — Eli  Thayer., 

Delaware — John  C.  Clark.  Kansas — A.  G.  Proctor. 

Maryland — Wni.  P.  Ewing.  Nebraska — Samuel  W.  Elbert. 

Virginia — John  G.  Jenks.  District  of  Columbia— Jos.  Gerhardt. 

Ohio — R.  M.  Corwino.  Texas — G.  Moyers. 
Kentucky — Louis  M.  Dembitz. 

The  Convention  had  proceeded  thus  far  with  its  business,  when  a 
communication,  inviting  the  Convention  to  take  an  excursion  on  the 
lake,  was  received  and  accepted,  and  then  indefinitely  debated,  much 
time  being  frittered  away.  The  question  as  to  whether  it  would  be 
proper  to  constitute  the  committee  on  Platform,  before  a  permanent  or- 
ganization was  effected,  was  also  discussed.  Convention  adjourned 
until  5  P.  M. 

U[»on  reassembling,  the  report  of  the  committee  on  Permanent  Or- 
ganization was  in  order  and  made.  The  Hon.  Geo.  Ashmun,  the  pre- 
siding officer,  was  escorted  to  his  chair  by  Preston  Kino'  and  Carl 
Schurz,  the  one  short  and  round  as  a  barrel  and  fat  as  butter,  the  other 
tall  and  slender.  The  contrast  was  a  curious  one,  and  so  palpable  that 
the  whole  multitude  saw  it,  and  gave  a  tremendous  cheer.  Mr.  Ashmun 
was  speedily  discovered  to  be  an  excellent  presiding  officer.  His  clear 
full-toned  voice  was  one  refreshing  to  hear  amid  the  clamors  of  a  Con- 
vention. He  is  cool,  clear-headed  and  executive,  and  will  despatch  bus- 
iness. He  is  a  treasure  to  the  Convention,  and  will  lessen  and  shorten 
its  labors.  His  speech  was  very  good  for  tbe  occasion,  delivered  with 
just  warmth  enough.  He  was  animated,  and  yet  his  emotions  did  not 
get  the  better  of  him.  In  conclusion  he  referred,  as  if  it  were  an  un- 
doubted fact,  to  the  "  brotherly  kindness"  he  had  everywhere  seen  dis- 
played. He  had  not  heard  a  harsh  word  or  unkind  expression  pass 
between  delegates.  Now,  the  gentleman  must  have  kept  very  close,  or 
his  hearing  is  deplorably  impaired.  He  certainly  could  not  stay  lonw 
among  the  Seward  men  at  the  Richmond  House,  without  hearinor  unkind 
and  profane  expressions  used  respecting  brother  delegates  of  conserva- 
tive notions.  He  would  very  frequently  hear  brother  Greeley,  for 
example,  who  is  hated  intensely  by  them,  called  a  "d — d  old  ass." 
Indeed,  that  is  a  very  mild  specimen  of  the  forms  of  expression  used. 
Mr.  Abhimm  was,  however,  as  nearly  correct  in  his  statement  of  the 
case,  as  Caleb  Cushing  was  at  Charleston  in  adjourning  the  Conven- 
tion, in  praising  it  for  unexampled  decorum.  It  is  worthy  of  remark 
that  he  had  nothing  directly  to  say  of  the  "nigger."  The  Hon.  David 
Wilmot  had  attended  to  that  department  sufficiently. 
9 


130  N 

A  gavel  was  presented  in  behalf  of  the  mechanics  of  Chicago,  by 
Mr.  Judd,  to  the  jirtsiding  cfficer.  It  was  made  of  the  oak  of  the 
flag-i«hip  of  Com.  Perry,  the  Lawrence — "  Dou't  give  up  the  ship." 

Mr.  Judd  said  : 

There  is  a  motto,  too,  adopted  by  that  mechanic,  which  should  be  a 
motto  for  every  Republican  of  this  Convention — the  motto  b(irne  upon 
the  flag  of  the  gallant  Lawrence,  "  Don't  give  up  the  ship."  [Great 
applause.]  Mr.  President,  in  pre.«entii)g  this  to  you,  in  addition  to  the 
motto  furni-shed  by  the  mecluinic  who  manufactured  this,  as  an  evidence 
of  his  warmth  and  zeal  in  th«?  Republican  cause,  I  would  recommend  to 
this  Convention  to  believe  that  the  person  who  will  be  nominated  here, 
can,  when  the  election  is  over  in  November,  send  a  despatch  to  Wash- 
int^ton  in  the  language  of  the  gallant  Perry,  "  We  have  met  the  enemy, 
and  they  are  ours."     [Terrific  cheering.] 

The  committee  on  Ptesululions  was  appointed: 

Maine— George  F.  Talbott.  Indiana— Win.  T.  Otto. 

New  Hampshire — Amos  Tuck.  Micbigau— Austin  lilair. 

Vermont — Ebenezer  M.  Briggs.  Illinois — Gustavus  Ku-ner. 
Massachusetts — George  S.  Boutwell.    Wisconsin — Carl  Schurz. 
Rhode  Island — Benjamin  T.  Eames.     Minnesota— Stiphin  .Miller. 

Connecticut— S.  W.  Kellogg.  Iowa — J.  A.  Kasson. 

New  York- H.  R.  Selden.  Mi.-*souri— Cbas.  L.  Bernays. 

New  Jersey — Thos.  H.  Dudley.  California— F.  V.  Tracy. 

Pennsylvania — William  Jessup.  Oregon — Horace  Greeley. 

Delaware— N.  B.  Smith.  Texas— H.  A.  Shaw. 

Maryland— F.  P.  Blair.  D.  of  Columbia— G.  A.  Hall. 

Virginia — Alfred  Caldwell.  Nebraska— A.  Sidm  y  Gardner. 

Ohio — Jo.<e])h  H.  Barrett.  Kansas — John  V.  HalUi-schiedt. 
Kentucky— George  D.  Blakoy. 

The  Convention  adjourned  without  transacting  any  further  business. 

The  question  on  which  every  thing  turns  is  whether  Seward  can  be 
nominated.  His  individuality  is  the  pivot  here,  just  as  that  of  Douglas 
was  at  Charleston. 

Horace  Greeley  and  Eli  Thayer  have  agreed  upon  the  following  res- 
olution, whicli  Greeley  is  at  work  to  make  one  of  the  planks  in  the  plat- 
form :  * 

Resolved,  That  holding  of  liberty  to  bo  the  natural  birthright  of  every  human 
l»eing,  we  maintain  that  slavery  can  only  e.xist  where  it  has  been  jjreviously  es- 
tablished by  laws  constitutionally  enacted  ;  and  wc  are  inflexibly  opposed  to  itR 
establishmeat  in  the  Territories  by  legislative,  executive,  or  judicial  interven- 
tion. 

The  first  part  of  this  resolution  is  Greeley's,  the  latter  part  Thayer's. 
It  is  the  nearest  right  of  any  platform  resolution  anywhere  adopted  or 
proposed,  being  nearest  to  real  popular  sovereignty,  and  Greeley  thinks 
he  can  carry  it  through  the  Platform  committee.  It  is  called  the  Ore- 
gon Platform. 

The  scenes  when  the  doors  of  that  part  of  the  Wigwam  set  apart  for 
the  masculine  public  in  general,  are  opened,  are  highly  exciting  and 

•  Mr.  GrMlry  did  not  accompliah  hi*  purpoxe  regsniing  tliit  r(>!«alation.  Bnt  it  will  be  found, 
upon  examioation  of  tlic  Rcpublicsu  PUtrurm,  Hint  it  doea  not  auort  the  duty  of  Cou^rehK  to 
Intervene  la  the  Territurion  to  eiclude  Slavery 


131 

amusing.  This  afternoon  the  rush  for  places  was  tremenclous.  Three 
doors  about  twenty  feet  wide  each,  were  simultaneously  tlirown  open, 
and  three  torrents  of  men  roared  in,  rushing  headlong  fiyt  front  posi- 
tions. The  standing  room,  holding  four  thousand  five  hundred  per- 
sons, was  packed  in  about  fi.'^  minutes.  The  galleries,  where  only 
gentlemen  accompanied  by  ladies  are  admitted,  and  which  contains 
nearly  three  thousand  persons,  was  already  full.  There  was  a  great 
deal  of  fun,  and  some  curious  performances,  in  filling  the  galleries. 
Ladies  to  accompany  gentlemen  were  in  demand — school-girls  were 
found  on  the  street,  and  given  a  quarter  each  to  see  a  gentleman  safe 
in.  Other  girls,  those  of  undoubted  character  (no  doubt  on  the  sub- 
ject whatever),  were  much  sought  after  as  escorts.  One  of  them  being 
asked  to  take  a  gentleman  to  the  gallery,  and  offered  half  a  dollar  for 
so  doing,  excused  herself  by  saying  she  had  already  taken  two  men  in 
at  each  of  the  three  doors,  and  was  afraid  of  arrest  if  she  carried  the 
enterprise  any  further.  An  Irish  woman  passing  with  a  bundle  of 
clothes  under  her  arm  was  levied  upon  by  an  "  irrepressible,"  and  see- 
ing him  safely  into  the  seats  reserved  for  ladies  and  accompanying  gen- 
tlemen, retired  with  her  fee  and  bundle.  Another  "  irrepressible  " 
sought  out  an  Indian  woman  who  was  selling  moccasins,  and  attempted 
to  escort  her  in.  This  was  a  little  too  severe  however.  He  was  in- 
formed that  she  was  no  lady — and  the  point  was  argued  with  considera- 
ble vehemence.  It  was  finally  determined  that  a  squaw  was  not  a  lady. 
The  young  Republican  protested  indignantly  against  the  policeman's 
decision,  claiming  equal  rights  for  all  womankind. 

The  Republicans  have  all  divided  into  two  classes,  the  "irrepressi- 
bles" and  the  "conservatives." 

The  favorite  word  in  the  Convention  is  "solemn."  Every  thing  is 
solemn.  In  Charleston  the  favorite  was  "  crisis."  Here  there  is 
something  every  ten  minutes  found  to  be  solemn.  In  Charleston  there 
was  a  crisis  nearly  as  often.  I  observed  as  many  as  twenty-three  in 
one  day. 

A  new  ticket  is  talked  of  here  to-night,  and  an  informal  meeting 
held  in  this  house  since  I  have  been  writing  this  letter,  has  given  it  aa 
impetus.  It  is  "Lincoln  and  Hickman."  This  is  now  the  ticket  as 
again.st  Seward  and  Cash.  Clay. 

The  Ohio  delegation  continues  so  divided  as  to  be  without  influence. 
If  united  it  would  have  a  formidable  influence,  and  might  throw  the 
casting  votes  between  candidates,  holding  the  balance  of  power  between 
the  East  and  the  West. 


SECOND    DAY 


Rkpubi.ican  Wigwam, 

CIdrago,  May   17,  18C0. 


Masses  of  people  poured  into  town  last  night  and  this  morning, 
expecting  the  nomination  to  be  made  to-day,  and  desiring  to  be  present. 
All  adjectives  might  be  fairly  exhausted  in  describing  the  crowd.     It  is 


132 

mighty  &i\(\  overwhelming  ;  it  can  only  be  numbered  by  tens  of  tboa- 
sand*.  The  press  about  the  hotels  this  morning  was  crashing.  Two 
thousand  persons  t)ok  breakfast  ut  the  Tremunt  House. 

Many  of  the  delegates  kept  up  the  excitement  nearly  all  night.  At 
twf»  o'clock  this  morning  part  of  the  Mi.>Jsonri  delt-gaiion  were  singing 
songs  in  their  parlor.  'J'hcre  were  still  a  crowd  of  fellows  caucusing — 
and  the  glasses  were  still  clinking  in  the  bar  rooms — and  far  down  the 
street  a  brass  band  was  making  the  night  musical. 

The  Seward  men  made  a  demonstration  this  morning  in  the  form  of 
a  procos'^ion.  The  scene  at  the  Richmond  House  as  they  formed  and 
marched  away  after  their  band  of  music — the  band  in  splendid  uniform 
and  the  Sewardites  wearing  badges — was  exceedingly  animating  and 
somewhat  picturesque.  The  band  was  giving,  with  a  vast  vobiine  of 
melody,  ''0  isn't  he  a  darling  V — the  procession  Wiia  four  abreast, 
filing  away  in  a  cloud  of  dust — and  one  of  their  orators,  mounted  upon 
a  door-step,  with  hat  and  cane  in  his  hands,  wa.s  haranguing  them  as  a 
captain  might  address  his  soldiers  marching  to  battle.  The  i^cward 
procession  was  heedless  of  the  dust  as  regular  soldiers,  and  strode  on 
with  gay  elasticity  and  jaunty  bearing. 

As  they  passed  the  Trcmont  House  where  the  many  masses  of  the 
opponents  of  "Old  Irrepressible"  were  congregated,  they  gave  three 
throat-tearing  cheers  for  Seward.  It  will  be  a  clear  case  if  he  is  not 
nominiited,  that  the  failure  cannot  be  charged  to  his  friemls.  Few  men 
have  had  friends  who  would  cleave  unto  them  as  the  Sewardites  to  their 
great  man  here. 

The  Pennsylvanians  declare,  if  Seward  were  nominated,  they  would 
be  immediately  ruined.  They  could  do  nothing.  The  majority  against 
them  would  be  counted  by  tens  of  thousands.  New  Jerseyites  say  the 
same  thing.  The  Indianians  are  of  the  same  opinion.  They  look 
heart-broken  at  the  suggestion  that  Seward  has  the  inside  track,  and 
throw  up  their  hands  in  despair.  They  say  Lane  will  be  beaten,  the 
Legislature  pass  utterly  into  the  hands  of  the  Democracy,  and  the  two 
Republican  Senators  hoped  for  be  heard  of  no  more.  Illinois  agonizes 
at  the  mention  of  the  name  of  Seward,  and  says  he  is  to  them  the  sting 
of  political  death.  His  nomination  would  kill  off  Trumbull,  and  give 
the  Le"^i.ilature  into  the  hands  of  Democrats,  to  make  the  next  Con- 
gressional apportionment.  Amid  all  these  cries  of  distre>s,  the  Sew- 
ardites are  true  as  steel  to  their  champion,  and  they  will  cling  to  "Old 
Irrepressible,"  as  they  call  him,  until  the  last  gun  is  fired  and  the  big 
bell  rings. 

The  crowd  in  the  Wigwam  this  morning  is  more  dense  than  ever. 
The  thing  was  full  yesterday,  but  it  is  crammed  to-day. 

The  following  communication  was  read  : 

'•  To  the  Ilononilile  Pre-ndent  of  the  National  licpuhlirnn  Omvenlvm  : 

"  Siu — Can  you  not  arrange  to  send  out  some  effective  speaker,  to 
entertain  twenty  thousand  Republicans  and  their  wives,  outside  the 
buildmg?  " 

There  were  many  expressions  of  a  desire  to  proceed  at  once  to  busi- 
ness. But  the  moment  the  committee  on  Rules  reported,  it  was  seen 
that  there  was  to  be  an  "irrepressible  conflict"  raging  through  the  day, 


133 

about  preliminary  matters.  The  majority  reported  that  a  majority  of 
the  votes  of  the  whole  Electoral  College  of  the  Union,  t^hould  be 
required  to  nominate  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-President. 
The  minority  report  was  that  a  majority  of  the  votes  in  the  Conveutioa 
only,  should  be  required  to  nominate. 

The  fourth  rule  as  reported  by  the  mr jority,  was  a  follows  : 
Rule  4.  304  votes,  beinsj  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  votes 
when  all  the  States  of  the  Union  are  represented  in  this  Convention, 
according  to  the  rates  of  representation  presented  in  Rule  2,  shull  be 
required  to  nominate  the  candidates  of  this  Convention  for  the  offices 
of  President  and  Vice-President. 

The  Convention  was  proceeding  into  battle  on  this  subject,  when 
Cartter  of  Ohio  suggested  that  they  were  about  to  undertake  the  serious 
business  without  the  re[)ort  of  the  committee  on  Credentials.  War 
then  took  place  about  credentials.  The  anti-Seward  men  were  anxious 
to  put  out  Virginia  and  Texas,  particularly  Texas,  fearing  that  those 
States  would  decide  the  contest  in  favor  of  Seward.  A  great  deal  of 
speech-making  followed.  David  Wilmot  made  an  attack  on  delegations 
from  slave  States  that  had  no  constituencies.  A  Marylander  replied  to 
him  with  great  force,  sneering  at  the  Pennsylvanians  as  too  cowardly 
to  bear  the  Republican  banner,  and  so  docile  as  to  sneak  under  the  flac 
of  a  People's  Party.  "First  blood  for  the  delegate  from  Maryland." 
The  name  of  the  young  man  who  drew  it  was  Armour.  I  have  seldom 
heard  so  plump  a  speech.  Every  sentence  was  a  blow  "straight  from 
the  shoulder,"  and  when  he  left  the  floor  the  author  of  the  Wilmot 
Proviso  had  gone  to  grass  and  come  to  grief.  The  next  thing  was  a 
speech  from  Dr.  Blakesly  of  Kentucky,  who  mentioned  that  Kentucky 
had  voted  for  Wilmot  for  Vice-President  in  1856,  in  the  PhiladulDhia 
Convention.  He  inquired  whether  he  could  be  forgiven  for  that  sin'? 
Cries  of  "Yes,"  and  he  sat  down.  "First  knock-down  blow  for  old 
Kentucky."  There  was  at  last  a  vote  on  the  recommitment  of  the 
report  of  the  committee  on  Credentials.     The  following  was  the  vote  : 

States.                                   Yeas.  Nays.         States.                              Yeas.  Nays. 

Maiue 3  13  Ohio 46  o 

New  Hampshire 9  1  Indiana 2(>  0 

Vermont    9  1  Missouri 4  14 

Massachusetts 13  9  Michigan 0  12 

Rhode  Island 8  0  Illinois 22  0 

Connecticut 10  2  Wisconsin    0  10 

New  York 1  69  Iowa • 8  0 

New  Jcrsiy   0  14  Californa 4  2 

Pennsylvania 53i  \  Minnesota 0  8 

Maryland 4  6  Oregon 0  5 

Delaware 1  5                                                  

Virginia 30  0                                                  275^  172i 

Kentucky 24  0 

This  was  not  a  test  vote,  but  it  worried  the  Seward  men  exceedingly, 
as  it  looked  to  the  exclusion  of  the  delegates  from  Texas. 

The  debate  preceding  was  really  entertaining  and  full  of  fire.  There 
has  not  been  in  any  previous  Republican  Convention  sharp-shootin<y  so 
keen,  and  sarcasm  so  bitter  and  incisive.     The  Convention  is  very  like 


JVo.  of 

Xo.  of 

No.  of 

Elecfl 

Staies. 

Dele- 

Elecfl 

v&.es. 

gaiex. 

volet. 

8 

Indiana  

...20 

13 

5 

Missouri 

....18 

9 

5 

Michigan 

...12 

G 

13 

IHiiiois 

. . . . 22 

11 

4 

Wisconsin , 

...    10 

5 

6 

Iowa 

,...8 

4 

35 

California 

8 

4 

7 

Minnesota 

...    8 

4 

27 

Orogon 

...   5 

3 

8 

Territories. 

3 

6 

15 

Nebraska 

6 

12 

District  of  Columbia., 

....   2 

23 

134 

the  old  Democratic  nrticle.  We  only  occa.sionally  lioar  the  sentimental 
tw.mg,  the  puritanic  intonation  that  indicates  the  ancient  and  savory 
article  of  anti-slavoiyism.  The  truth  is  the  Republican  party  is  rapidly 
becoming  Democratized  in  its  style  of  operationa. 

The  Convention  took  a  recess. 

Upon  reassemlilin<;.  the  committee  on  Credentials  reported,  through 
its  chairman,  that  it  fdund  gentlemen  entitled  to  peats  in  the  following 
States,  and  each  State  to  the  following  number  of  delegates : 

No.  of 
Stales  Dele- 

gates. 

Maino 16 

New  Hampshire 10 

Vermont 10 

Massachnsolts 26 

Rhode  Island 8 

Connecticut 12 

New  York 70 

New  Jtrsey 14 

Penn.^ylvauia 54 

Maryland 11 

Delaware 6 

Virginia 23 

Kentucky 23 

Ohio 4C 

[Criesof  "Texas."  "Texas."]  The  chairman,  Mr.  Benton  of  New 
Hampshire,  said  :  The  committee  have  considered  the  question  in  re- 
gard to  the  representation  from  the  State  of  Texas  ;  they  have  given  to 
the  examination  all  that  care  which  they  were  able  to,  and  which  the 
time  from  the  adjournment  of  the  Convention  this  forenoon  would  allow, 
and  they  have  instructed  me  almost  unanimously,  with  a  solitary  vote 
as  an  exception,  to  report  that  Texas  be  allowed  six  votes  in  this  Con- 
vention. [Tremendous  applause  and  cries  of  "Good,"  "good."]  It 
was  proved  before  the  committee  that  the  Convention  which  elected  the 
delegates  from  Texa.s — resident  delegates  who  are  here  in  attendance, 
was  a  ma.ss  Convention  ;  that  it  was  called  upon  a  petition  signed  by 
some  three  hundred  of  the  legal  voters  of  Texas.  [Applause]  That 
that  call  was  published  in  some  two  of  the  German  papers  published  in 
the  State  ;  that  written  notices  and  advertisements  were  posted  up  in 
various  parts  of  Texas,  where  there  is  any  number  of  people  in  favor 
of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and  the  committee  were  al- 
most unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  these  delegates,  elected  under 
these  circumstances,  were  fairly  entitled  to  act  as  the  representatives  of 
the  Repuldican  party  of  the  State  of  Texas.      [Prolonged  applause.] 

The  question  being  on  the  adoption  of  the  report,  it  was  adopted 
unanimously  amid  great  cheering. 

Tlie  report  of  the  committee  on  Rules  was  taken  up,  and  after  inter- 
esting speeches  made  on  both  sides,  the  fourth  rule  of  the  majority  re- 
port was  amended  l>y  sul)stituting  the  minority  report,  which  wa.s  that  a 
simple  m  ijirity  should  nominate — the  following  was  the  vote  on  the 
substituiiou  : 


135 


States,                                Yeas.  Noi/s. 

Maine 16  0 

New  Hampshire 10  0 

V'eimout 10  0 

Massachusetts 22  3 

Rhode  Island 4  4 

Connecticut 8  4 

New  York 70  0 

New  Jersey 12  I 

Pennsylvania 33i  2O5 

Maryland 5  6 

Delaware 6  0 

Virginia 13  8 

Kentucky 10  9 

Ohio  ..! 32  9 

Indiana 25  1 


Slcdes.  Yeas.  Nays. 

Missouri 0  18 

Michigan 12  0 

Illinois 7  0 

Texas 6  0 

Wisconsin 10  0 

Iowa 5  3 

California 8  0 

Minnesota 8  0 

Or'gon 3  1 

Territories. 

Kansas 6  0 

Nebraska 6  0 

District  of  Columbia 2  0 

358i  94^ 


The  platform  was  now  reported.  The  platform  was  received  with 
immense  enthusiasm.  Several  sections,  at  the  demand  of  the  audience, 
were  read  twice.  Pennsylvania  went  into  spasms  of  joy  over  the 
"  Tariff  Plauk,"  her  whole  delegation  rising  and  swinging  hats  and 
canes. 

Mr.  Cartter — Mr.  Chairman  :  That  report  is  so  eminently  unques- 
tionable from  beginning  to  end,  and  so  eloquently  carries  through  with 
it  its  own  vindication,  that  I  do  not  believe  the  Convention  will  desire 
discussion  upon  it,  and  I  therefore  call  the  previous  question  upon  it. 
[Applause,  and  mingled  cries  of  "  Good,  good,'"  and  "  No,  no."] 

Mr.  Giddings — I  arise,  sir,  solemnly  to  appeal  to  my  friend.  [Great 
confusion;  cries  of  "Withdraw  the  previous  question."  A.  voice — 
"  Nobody  wants  to  speak,  but  we  don't  want  to  be  choked  off,"  etc.] 

Mr.  Cartter — I  ins-ist  upon  the  previous  question. 

Mr.  Giddings — I  arise,  and  I  believe  I  have  the  right,  with  the  leave 
of  my  colleague,  to  offer  a  short  amendment  before  the  previous  question 
is  called. 

Mr.  Cartter — T  did  it  to  cut  you  off,  and  all  other  amendments,  and 
all  discussion.  [Great  confusion,  and  cries  of  "  Giddings  "  by  the  audi- 
ence.] 

Aft«r  further  discussion  and  confusion,  a  vote  was  taken  on  sustain- 
ing the  call  for  the  previous  question,  resulting  as  follows : 


Slates.  Yeas. 

Maine 1 

New  Hampshire 0 

Vermont 0 

Massachusetts 4 

Rhode  Island 0 

Connecticut 1 

New  York 25 

New  Jersey V2\ 

Pennsylvania i 

Maryland 0 

Delaware 4 

Virginia 17 

Kentucky 10 

Ohio 28 

Indiana 20 


Nays.  States.                              Yeas.     Nays. 

14        Missouri 0  18 

10        Michigan 8  4 

10  Illinois 14  8 

21         Texas 0  6 

8        Wisconsin 8  2 

11  Iowa   2  6 

45         California 0  8 

1 J       Minnesota 0  8 

b:n       Oregon 2  2 

1 1  Territories. 

2         Kansas 0  6 

6        Nebraska 2  4 

10  District  of  Columbia.. . .  0  2 

18  . 

6  155  301 


IS 

)fr.  Giddmgs — Mr.  Prcciicst,  I  fnipo««  to  cfin-,  aft«r  tte  finl  l 
IrtiM  as  k  atM^B  ho*.  »  a  ittAnXim  af  praM^ke.  die  fcUmriog : 


Tlat ««  Mieaaly  tt— mt  Oe  eclf^vidnt  ttmlkt  UkaX  mil  mm  arr  <«do««i 
IwtknrCrnlarvhkcntaiaBaSnBlil*^  ri^te.  iwiag  m%iA  anv  tbow  cf  life, 
Ikotj  aai  Ike  panak  a<  kapfiatw  [cki^«t] :  that  gwrcnaMale  aie  iattitatai 
wma^  mem  1m tttmn  tht  twgajmimA  ml  tbcer  righto. 

TW  bA  lua !■»■■  «M  M  MIovs: 


That  we,  Oe  dfh^lrf  RyranataliTca  af  dbeScyaUicaa  dcdonar 
Oa  Caiaeil  Saaae^  ia  CoarealMa  aaKakhkd.  ia  fiachai^  af  lh«  datj  ««  owe  to 

,  aBte  ia  &e  Mkaria^  dedantiowL 


TV  aeeaai  aectioa  af  Ait  Platfim  as  ong^aallj  teponed  aas  ia 


2.  That  AeBaaalnaBrr  af  Op  friotipiw  piwaij.ateJ  ia  Ih?  D«r1aratiaa  af 
hitytaifaet  aai  cabaAM  ia  tht-  Frdicnl  CuaHiHaliaM.  i»  cjwiial  ta  thr  fi^ 
aoradoaa  af  aar  Bcpakfieaa  ia^tatiaas ;  aai  toat  thf  F«denl  GoaatitBtiaa. 
tike  ri^a  ar  1^  States,  aai  the  Uuaa  alf  the  Stales,  MKt  and  ^all  be  pieeerrcd. 

Mr.  Giiiiags  amde  a  skoit  apttth  ia  &TQr  af  kis  aneadaieiit,  eem- 


Kov,  I  paparn  to  MiMtaia  the  detltite  of  aar  bdicfs.  I  ptopote 
a  ife  faaHaawalil  aad  ptiaal  ianea  wpoa  vhidi  the  gofvei*- 

finaied.  I  will  dcfaia  thas  Gaav^rtiaa  ao  loager.     I  cftr 

AiB  heeaasa  aar  partr  atas  iiiiJ  vpas  it-  It  grew  apov  iL  II 
has  existed  vn:-z  :: —  -  '  iva  leave  aaft  doB  liiilk  jaa  kave  out 
tfepaitj. 

Hr.  Car'  -  '  -^  ^  Bteomi  fcdaai  of  die  plat- 

hrm.     It  ^sendaMBt  aras  valed  down.     Tbe 

•li  aaa  q  -   j  skndj  taaratd  the  door.     A 

daoea  deter  >^^  be  ennsidered  eveij  thiag 

heL.  erea  't  has  not  beea  reaffimed. 

The  ^'tviB  .V.  Aad  BOW  the  Deelara- 

tioB  ■'.■(  ladepea^  ~  He  mvst  go.     He  got 

aloeg  as  Cff  aa  r  .     .    - . ,   .Qatfioated  br  aa- 

•■laMcsthattft^  hekfttheCoB- 

TBBtioo — actaali;  ^ng^. 

Hr  WitaMt  —  jtbat  the  reeolations  be  adopt- 
ed aepualelj.  ~  ^  theai  ■  a  lot."  etc.]  I 
have  aa  aacadi  ^:!]  eoBaead  iteelf  to  the 
good  aease  of  •&  .  taeat  i&  this :  la  the 
fmteeBlh  icaal .  laity  h  opprced  to 
amj  Ammgi  ia  -  kyidatum  bj 
winch  the  lig^'-  -^  tr  isranta  froB 
fciuga  bad*  A  f  giring  a 
faU  aad  cfteae-  r.:-  of  citims. 
wbcthcr  aatife  -  .  *'  If j  aaMnd- 
MAlistoaink'-  Qflieta 
direcOy  wilh  thr  s: 

"That  the  c  J 
fupmally  Ae  ti. 


137 

uwtUutiops  aeeording  to  its  ovn  jodgment  exdnsTrelj,  b  efflentia]  to 
that  balaoee  of  powers  on  which  the  perfeetion  and  endmaoee  of  oar 
political  &brie  depend^  ;  and  we  denoanee  the  lavleias  inTa^oa.  hj 
armed  force,  of  the  soil  of  aoj  State  or  Tertitoij,  no  matter  nnder  what 
pretext,  as  among  the  «ravestof  erimes." 

The  resolation  would  then  read.  "That  the  BepoUiean  party  ts  op- 
posed to  any  change  in  oar  naturalization  laws,  by  whieh  the  rights  of 
eitisensbip  hitherto  accorded  to  inui^;rant8  from  foreign  lands  dhaU  be 
abridgied  or  impaired/' 

It  being  explained  that  Mr.  Wilmot  was  mistaken,  in  preramiiig  that 
there  wa?  any  assaolt  on  State  Kigfats  meditated,  he  withdrew  his  amead- 
ment.  Carl  Schorz  however  made  a  speeeh  on  the  safc|edL  He  had 
insisted  on  baring  the  veij  words  in  the  platlbim  that  Wilmot  had  ob- 
jected to.     He  said: 

It  has  been  Terr  well  said  that  it  was  not  the  puiputie  of  the  reeoh- 
tion  to  declare  that  no  State  has  the  right  to  regulate  the  juffi^age  of  its 
citizens  by  leg^latire  enactment,  but  it  was  the  porpoee  to  dedare  tihat 
the  Bepnbliean  par^,  in  its  national  ea^aty,  is  i^paeed  to  any  saefa 
thinz  iD  princij^e. 

Mr.  Hassanreek  of  Ohio  made  a  thtillnig  litde  speech. 

3Ir.  Canis  of  Xew  York  obtained  the  floor  and  said : 

I  then  offer  as  an  amendment  to  the  report,  as  preeeoted  W  the  eom- 
mittee,  the  following :  That  the  seeood  clause  of  the  rep<Ht  shall  read, 
**  Tbat  the  maintenance  of  the  principles  promulgated  in  the  Deelar»- 
tion  of  Independence  and  embodied  in  the  Federal  Coostitation  " — and 
tben.  sir.  I  propose  to  am«id  by  adding  these  wutds,  **  That  all  men 
are  created  equal ;  that  they  are  endow^  by  their  Creator  with  certain 
inalienable  rights ;  that  among  these  are  Hfe,  liberty  and  the  poreuit  d 
happiness ;  that  to  secure  these  rights,  gOTemmente  are  instituted 
among  men.  deriving  their  jost  powera  from  the  eooaeat  of  the  gov- 
erned"— then  proceed — ''is  e^ential  to  the  presoQation  of  omr  Bn- 
publiean  institutioos  ;  and  that  the  Federal  Coustitiition,  the  Bights  «f 
the  States,  and  the  Union  of  the  States,  most  and  sh^  be  preserved." 
[Great  applause,  and  many  gentlemen  straggling  fiir  the  flow.J 
{~A  point  of  order  was  raised  that  this  amendment  had  been  once 
voted  down.  The  chair,  under  a  misapprehenfioD,  sustained  the  point, 
Mr.  Blair  of  Missouri  proposed  to  appeal  &om  the  dedsion  of  the 
chair,  but  whereas  it  appeared  that  the  amendment  ofiered  by  Mr. 
GiddiDgs  bad  been  the  first  clause,  and  that  this  amendment  was  offered 
to  the  second  clause,  it  was  pronounoed  in  order!!] 

Mr.  Curtis  made  a  £h<»t  speech.     He  said : 

I  have  to  a>k  this  Convoitioa  whether  they  are  prepared  to  go  opon 
the  record  and  before  the  country  as  voting  down  the  words  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence?  [Cries  of  "  No,"  "  no,"  and  applause.] 
I  ask  gentlemen  gravely  to  consider  that  in  the  amendmeafc  wfaieli  I 
have  proposed,  I  have  done  nothing  that  the  soundest  and  safest  mam 
in  all  the  land  might  not  do;  and  I  rise  simply — ^for  I  am  now  sitdhg 
down — I  rise  simply  to  ask  gentlemen  to  think  well  before,  upon  the 
free  prairies  of  the  West,  in  the  summer  of  1S60,  they  dare  to  winee 
and  quail   before  the  men  who  in  Philadelphia,  in  1776 — in  PhUadel- 


138 

phia,  in  the  Arch-Keystone  State,  so  amply,  so  nobly  represented  upon 
this  platfoiiu  to-diiy — before  they  dare  to  shrink  troni  n-pcuting  the 
woni.s  that  the.se  great  niun  enunciated.      [Territie  applause.] 

This  w.is  a  strung  appeal  and  took  the  Convention  liy  sttirni.  It  was 
a  great  personal  triumph  for  Cuitis.  His  classical  features,  literary 
fame,  pleading  style  as  a  speaker,  and  the  force  of  his  case,  called  at- 
tention to  him,  and  gave  him  the  ear  of  the  Convention,  and  gave  him 
the  triumph.  And  the  Declaration  again  became  part  of  the  platform 
of  the  liepublican  party. 

TUK    PLATFORM 

now  stood : 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  delegated  representatives  of  the  RrpiiViliouii  electors  of 
the  United  States,  in  Convention  assembkd.  in  discharge  ot  the  duty  we  owe  to 
our  constituents  and  our  country,  unite  in  the  following  dteiarations  : 

1.  That  the  history  of  the  nation  during  the  last  four  years,  has  fully  estab- 
li.shed  the  propriety  and  necessity  of  the  organization  and  perjietualion  of  ihe 
Repul)lican  party,  and  that  the  causes  wliich  calhd  it  into  existence  are  perma- 
nent in  their  nature,  and  now,  more  than  ever  before,  demand  its  peaceful  and 
constitutioiiiil  triumph. 

1.  That  tlie  maintenance  of  the  principles  promulgated  in  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  and  embodied  in  the  Federal  Constitution.  "That  all  men  are 
created  equal ;  that  they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  with  certain  inalienable 
rights;  that  among  these  are  life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit  ot  happiness  ;  that  to 
secure  these  rights,  governments  are  inslituttd  among  men.  deriving  tlnir  just 
powers  from  the  consent  of  the  governed,"'  is  es.-.enlial  to  the  preservation  of 
our  Reputilican  institutions;  and  that  the  Federal  Constitution,  the  Rights  of 
the  States,  and  the  Union  of  the  States,  must  and  shall  be  presirvtd. 

3.  That  to  tile  Union  of  the  States  this  nation  owes  its  unprecedented  increase 
in  population,  its  surprising  development  of  material  resources,  its  rapid  aug- 
mentation of  wrultli,  its  hajipiness  at  home,  and  its  honor  abroad  ;  and  we  hold 
in  al^horrence  all  schemes  fur  Disunion,  come  from  whatever  source  they  may  : 
And  we  congratulate  the  country  that  no  Republican  member  ot  Congre.v*  has 
uttered  or  countenanced  the  threats  of  Disunion  so  olten  made  by  Diinocratic 
members,  without  rebuke  and  with  applause  from  their  political  associates;  and 
We  denounce  tho.se  threats  of  disunion,  in  case  of  a  popular  overthrow  of  their 
a.<cendancy  as  denying  the  vital  principles  of  a  free  government,  and  as  an 
avowal  of  cont<niplated  treason,  which  it  is  the  imperative  duly  of  au  indig- 
nant I'eoplf  strrnly  to  rel)nke  and  forever  silence. 

4.  That  the  maintenance  inviolate  of  the  rights  of  the  States,  and  especially 
the  right  of  each  State  to  order  and  control  its  own  domestic  institutions  ac- 
cording to  its  own  judgment  exclusively,  is  essential  to  that  balance  ot  powers 
on  which  the  perfection  and  endurance  of  our  political  fabric  dept  nds  ;  and  we 
denounce  the  lawless  invasion  by  armed  lorce  t»f  the  soil  of  any  State  or  Terri- 
tory, no  matter  under  what  pretext,  as  among  the  gravest  ot  crimes. 

.").  That  the  present  Diinocratic  Administration  has  far  exceeded  our  worst 
apprehensions,  in  its  meiisureless  subserviiiiey  to  the  exactions  ot  a  .'HCtional 
interest,  aa  especially  evinced  in  its  desperate  exertions  to  force  the  infamous 
Lecompion  Constitution  upon  tne  protesting  people  of  Kan.sas ;  in  construing 
the  per.-toiial  relation  betwei-n  master  and  servant  to  hivolve  an  un(|ualili(d 
property  in  persons  ;  in  its  attempted  eiitbieement.  everywhere,  on  land  and  sea, 
through  the  intervention  of  t'ongress  and  of  the  Federal  Coiu'ts.  of  the  exir  mi- 
pretensions  of  a  purely  local  interest  :  and  in  its  general  and  unvarying  abuse 
ot  the  power  intrusted  to  it  by  a  contiding  people. 

().  That  the  people  justly  view  with  alarm  the  reckless  extrnvagance  which 
pervades  I'Vi'ry  depurtment  of  the  Federal  (lovernmeut;  that  a  return  to  rigid 
economy  and  accounlaltility  is  indispensable  to  arrest  the  systematic  plundc  r  of 
the  public  treasury  by  favored  parlisiiiis  ;  while  the  recent  startling  develop- 


139 

merits  of  frauds  and  corruptions  at  tho  Federal  motropolis,  show  that  an  entire 
change  of  administration  is  imperatively  d.manded. 

7.  That  the  new  dogma  that  the  Constitution,  of  its  own  force,  carries  slavery 
into  any  or  all  of  the  Territories  of  the  United  States,  is  a  dangerous  political  her- 
esy, at  variance  with  the  explicit  provisions  of  that  instrument  itself,  with  con- 
temporaneous exposition,  and  with  legislative  and  judicial  precedent ;  is  revo- 
lulioiuiry  in  its  tendency,  and  subversive  of  the  peace  and  harmony  of  the 
country. 

8.  That  the  normal  condition  of  all  the  territory  of  the  United  States  is  that 
of  freedom  :  That  as  our  Republican  fathers,  when  they  had  abolished  slavery 
in  all  our  national  territory,  ordained  that  "  no  person  should  be  deprived  of 
life,  liberty,  or  property,  without  due  process  of  law,"  it  becomes  our  duty,  by 
legislation,  whenever  such  legislation  is  necessary,  to  maintain  this  provision  of 
the  Constitution  against  all  attempts  to  violate  it ;  and  we  deny  the  authority 
of  Congress,  of  a  Territorial  Legislature,  or  of  any  individuals,  to  give  legal  ex- 
istence to  slavery  in  any  Territory  of  the  United  States. 

9.  That  we  brand  the  recent  re-opening  of  the  African  slave-trade,  under  the 
cover  of  our  national  flag,  aided  by  perversions  of  judicial  power,  as  a  crime 
against  humanity  and  a  burning  shame  to  our  country  and  age  ;  and  we  call 
upon  Congress  to  take  prompt  and  efiicient  measures  for  the  total  and  final  sup- 
pression of  that  execrable  traffic. 

10.  That  in  the  recent  vetoes,  by  their  Federal  Governors,  of  the  acts  of  the 
Legislatures  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  prohibiting  slavery  in  those  Territories, 
we  find  a  practical  illustration  of  the  boasted  Democratic  principle  of  Non-in- 
tervention and  Topular  Sovereignty  embodied  in  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill,  and 
a  demonstration  of  the  deception  and  fraud  involved  therein. 

11.  That  Kansas  should,  of  right,  be  immediately  admitted  as  a  State  under 
the  Constitution  recently  formed  and  adopted  by  her  people,  and  accepted  by 
the  House  of  Representatives. 

12.  That,  while  providing  revenue  for  the  support  of  the  General  Government 
by  duties  upon  imports,  sound  policy  requires  such  an  adjustment  of  these  im- 
posts as  to  encourage  the  development  of  the  industrial  interests  of  the  whole 
country  ;  and  we  commend  that  policy  of  national  exchanges,  which  secures  to 
the  working  men  liberal  wages,  to  agriculture  remunerating  prices,  to  mechan- 
ics and  maiuilaeturers  an  adequate  reward  for  their  skill,  labor  and  enterprise, 
and  to  the  nation  commercial  prosperity  and  independence. 

13.  Tiiat  we  protest  against  any  sale  or  alienation  to  others  of  the  Public 
Lands  held  b}'  actual  settlers,  and  against  any  view  of  the  Free  Homestead  pol- 
icy whieii  regards  the  settlers  as  paupers  or  suppliants  for  public  bounty  ;  and 
we  demand  the  passage  by  Congress  of  the  complete  and  satisfactory  Home- 
stead m  'asure  which  has  already  passed  the  House. 

1-4.  That  the  Republican  party  is  opposed  to  any  change  in  our  Naturaliza- 
tion Laws  or  any  State  legislation  by  which  the  rights  of  citizenship  hitherto 
accordi'd  to  immigrants  from  foreign  lands  shall  be  abridged  or  impaired  ;  and 
ia  favor  of  giving  a  full  and  eltieient  protection  to  the  rights  of  all  classes  of 
citizens,  whether  native  or  naturalized,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

15.  That  appropriations  by  Congress  for  River  and  Harbor  improvements  of  a 
National  character,  reijuiri'd  for  the  accommodation  and  security  of  an  existing 
commerce,  are  authorized  by  the  Constitution,  and  justified  by  the  obligation  of 
Government  to  protect  the  lives  and  property  of  its  citizens. 

It).  That  a  Railroad  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  is  imperatively  demanded  by  the  in- 
terests of  I  lie  wiiole  country  ;  that  the  Federal  Government  ought  to  render  im- 
mediate and  elHeienl  aid  in  its  construction  ;  and  that  as  preliminary  thereto,  a 
daily  Overland  Mail  should  be  promptly  established. 

17.  Finally,  having  tiius  set  forth  our  distinctive  principles  and  views,  we  in- 
vit(!  the  co-operation  of  all  citizens,  however  ditt'tring  on  other  questions,  who 
substantially  agree  with  us  in  their  affirmance  and  support. 

So  it  was  adopted.  The  vote  was  taken  about  six  o'clock,  and  upon 
the  announcement  being  made  a  scene  ensued  of  the  most  astounding 
character.  All  the  tliousands  of  men  in  that  enormous  wigwam  com- 
menced swinging  their  hats,  and  cheering  with  intense  enthusiasm,  and 


140 

the  other  thousands  of  ladies  waved  their  handkerchiefs  and  clnpped 
thuir  liands.  The  roar  that  went  up  from  that  nia.'-s  of  ten  thousand 
human  heings  under  one  roof  was  indescriliahle.  Sueh  a  ^pictaele  as 
was  presented  fur  some  minutes  has  never  before  been  witnessed  at  a 
Convention.  A  herd  of  buffaloes  or  lions  could  not  have  made  a  more 
tremendous  roaring. 

As  the  great  assemblage  poured  through  the  streets  after  adjournment, 
it  seemed  to  electrify  the  city.  The  agitation  of  the  masses  that  pack 
the  hotels  and  throng  the  streets,  and  are  certainly  forty  thousand  strong, 
was  sueh  as  made  the  little  excitement  at  Charleston  seem  insignificant. 

The  Convention  adjourned  without  taking  a  ballot  for  President,  as 
the  tally-sheets  were  not  prepared. 

The  tactics  of  the  Seward  men  in  convention  to  day  were  admirable. 
They  made  but  one  mistake,  that  of  voting  again.st  the  recommitment  of 
the  report  of  the  committee  on  Credentials.  They  made  a  beautiful 
fight  against  Wilmot's  proposition  to  examine  into  the  constituencies  of 
slave  State  delegations,  putting  forwanl  men  to  strike  the  necessary 
blows  who  were  not  suspected  of  Sewardism.  There  was  also  a  splen- 
did fight  on  the  subject  of  the  two-thirds  rule  (as  it  was  in  effect), 
which  was  sought  to  be  used  to  slaughter  Seward.  So  perfect  were  the 
Seward  tactics,  that  this  rule,  which  his  opponents  had  hoped  to  carry, 
was  made  odious,  and  defeated  by  a  two-tliirds  vote.  Then  Giddings 
Wiis  anxious,  beyond  all  description,  to  have  the  initial  words  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  in  the  platform.  In  attempting  to  get 
them  in,  he  was  snubbed  by  Seward's  opponents  most  cruelly.  He 
had  been  working  against  Seward,  and  was  not  without  influence. 
Now  a  New  York  man  took  up  and  carried  through  his  precious  amend- 
ment. So  confident  were  the  Seward  men,  when  the  platform  was  adopt- 
ed, of  their  ability  to  nominate  their  great  leader,  that  they  urged  an 
immediate  ballot,  and  would  have  had  it  if  the  ^crks  had  not  reported 
that  they  were  unprovided  with  tally-sheets.  The  cheeiing  of  the 
thousands  of  spectators  during  the  day,  indicated  that  a  very  large 
share  of  the  outside  pressure  was  for  Seward.  There  is  something  al- 
most irresistible  here  in  the  prestige  of  his  fame. 

The  New  Yorkers  here  are  of  a  class  unknown  to  "Western  Republi- 
can politicians.  They  can  drink  as  much  whiskey,  swear  as  louii  and 
long,  sing  as  bad  songs,  and  "  get  up  and  howl  "  as  ferociously  as  any 
crowd  of  Democrats  you  ever  heard,  or  heard  of.  They  are  oppos- 
ed, as  they  say,  "to  being  too  d — d  virtuous."  They  hoot  at  the 
idea  that  Seward  could  not  sweep  all  the  Northern  States,  and  swear 
that  he  would  have  a  party  in  every  slave  State,  in  less  than  a  year, 
that  would  clean  out  the  disunionists,  from  shore  to  shore.  They  slap 
each  other  on  tiie  back  with  the  emphasis  of  delight  when  they  meet, 
and  rip  out  "  llow  are  you  V  "  with  a  "How  are  you  hossV"  style,  that 
would  do  honor  to  Old  Kaintuck  on  a  bust.  At  tiight  those  of  tliera 
who  are  not  cntraged  at  caucusing,  are  doing  that  which  ill-tutored  youths 
call   "raising  h — 1  generally." 

Wherever  you  find  them,  the  New  York  politicians,  of  whatever  party, 
are  a  peculiar  people. 

The  Seward  nieu  have  been  in  high  feather.     They  entertain  no  par- 


141 

tide  of  doubt  of  his  nomination  in  the  morning.  They  have  a  cham- 
pagne supper  in  their  rooms  at  the  Richmond  Hnuse  to-night,  and  have 
bands  of  music  serenading  the  various  delegations  at  their  quarters. 
Three  hundred  bottles  of  champagne  arc  said  to  have  been  cracked  at 
the  ilichmoiid.  This  may  be  an  exaggeration,  but  I  am  not  inclined  to 
think  the  quantity  overstated,  for  it  flowed  freely  as  water. 

The  delegation  here  is  a  queer  compound.  There  is  a  party  of  toler- 
ably rough  fellows,  of  whom  Tom  Ilyer  is  leader,  and  there  is  Thurlow 
Weed  (called  Lord  Thurlow  by  his  friends),  Moses  II.  Grinnell,  James 
Watson  Webb,  Gov.  Morgan,  Gen.  Nye,  George  \V.  Curtis,  and  others 
of  the  strong  men  of  the  State,  in  commerce,  political  jobbing,  and  ia 
literature — first  class  men  in  their  respective  positions,  and  each  with 
his  work  to  do  according  to  his  ability.  In  the  face  of  such  "  irrepress- 
ibles," the  conservative  expediency  men — Greeley,  the  Blairs,  the  Re- 
publican candidates  for  Governor  in  Pennsylvania,  Indiana,  and  Illi- 
nois— are  hard  pressed,  sorely  perplexed,  and  despondent. 


THIRD    DAY. 


Proceedings  opened  by  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Green  of  Chicago, 
Mr.  Green  said  : 

"0,  we  entreat  thee,  that  at  some  future  but  no  distant  day,  the  evils 
which  now  invest  the  body  politic  shall  not  only  have  been  arrested  in 
its  progress,  but  wholly  eradicated  from  the  system.  And  may  the  pen 
of  the  historian  trace  an  intimate  connection  between  that  glorious  con- 
summation and  the  transaction  of  this  Convention." 

After  adjournment  on  Thursday  (the  second  day),  there  were  few 
men  in  Chicago  who  believed  it  possible  to  prevent  the  nomination  of 
Seward.  His  friends  had  played  their  game  to  admiration,  and  had 
been  victorious  on  every  preliminary  skirmish.  WHien  the  platform  had 
been  adopted,  inclusive  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  they  felt 
themselves  already  exalted  upon  the  pinnacle  of  victory.  They  re- 
joiced exceedingly,  and  full  of  confidence,  cried  in  triumphant  tones, 
"  Call  the  roll  of  States."  But  it  was  otherwise  ordered.  The  chair 
announced  that  the  tally-sheets  had  not  been  prepared,  and  that  it 
would  subject  the  clerks  to  great  inconvenience  to  proceed  to  a  ballot  at 
that  time.  The  Seward  men  expressed  themselves  greatly  disgusted, 
and  were  still  unwilling  to  adjourn.  A  motion  was  made  to  adjourn, 
hewever,  and  after  an  uncertain  respon.se,  very  little  voting  being  done 
either  way,  the  chair  pronounced  the  motion  for  ailjournmeni  carried. 
The  Seward  men  were  displeased  but  not  disheartened.  They  consid- 
ered their  hour  of  triumphing  with  brains  and  principle,  over  pre- 
sumptions of  expediency,  as  merely  postponed.  They  did  not  fear  the 
results  of  the  caucusing  that  night,  though  they  knew  every  hour  would 
be  employed  against  thein_i'  The  opponents  of  3Ir.  Seward  left  the 
wigwam  that  evening  thoroughly  disheartened.  Greeley  was,  as  has 
been  widely  reported,  al)Solutely  "terrilied."  The  nominaiiun  of  Sew- 
ard in  defiance  of  his  influence,  would  have  been  a  cruel  blow.     He  gave 


142 

■  up  the  ship,  as  appears  from  the  following  despatch  to  the  New  York 
Tribune  : 

GOV.   SEWARD   Wn.I.   BE    NOMrVATED. 

CiiiCAOO,  Tliursday,  May  17 — 11:40  P.  M. — My  conclusion,  from  all  that  I  can 
gather  to-iiidil.  is.  that  the  oppopition  to  Gov.  Peward  caDoot  concentrate  on 
any  caudidutc,  and  that  he  will  bi>  nominated.  u.  o. 

I  telegraphed,  about  the  same  time,  the  same  thing  to  the  Cincinnati 
Commercial ;  and  every  one  of  the  forty  thousand  men  in  attendance  u|»on 
the  Chicago  Convention  will  testify  that  at  midnight  of  Tbursday-Fri- 
da}'  night,  the  universal  impression  was  that  Seward's  success  was  cer- 
tain. 

The  New  Yorkers  were  exultant.  Their  bands  were  playing,  and  the 
champagne  flowing  at  their  headquarters  as  after  a  victory^ 

But  there  was  much  done  after  midnight  and  before  the  Convention 
assembled  on  Friday  morning.  There  were  hundreds  of  Pennsylvanians, 
Indianians  and  Illinoisans,  who  never  closed  their  eyes  that  night.  I 
saw  Henry  S.  Lane  at  one  o'clock,  pale  and  haggard,  with  cane  under 
his  arm,  walkinjir  as  if  for  a  was;er,  from  one  caucus-room  to  another, 
at  the  Tremont  House.  He  had  been  toiling  with  desperation  to  bring 
the  Indiana  delegation  to  go  as  a  unit  for  Lincoln.  And  then  i.i  con- 
nection with  others,  he  had  been  operating  to  bring  the  Vermonters 
and  Yirjiinians  to  the  point  of  deserting  Seward.  Vermont  would  cer- 
tainly ca>t  her  electoral  vote  for  any  candidate  who  could  be  nniiiinat- 
ed,  and  Virginia  as  certainly  against  any  candidate.  The  object  was 
to  bring  the  delegates  of  those  States  to  consider  success  rather  than 
Seward,  and  join  with  the  battle-ground  States — as  Pennsylvania,  New 
Jersey,  Lidiana,  and  Illinois  insisted  upon  calling  themsclve^^  This 
was  finally  done,  the  fatal  break  in  Seward's  strength  having  been  made 
in  Vermont  and  Virginia,  destroying  at  once,  when  it  appeared,  his 
power  in  the  New  England  and  the  slave  State  delegations.  But  the  work 
was  not  yet  done.  The  PenDsylvanian^_h.ad  been  fed  upon  meat,  such 
that  they  presented  themselves  at  Chicago  with  the  presumption  that 
they  had  only  to  say  what  they  wished,  and  receive  the  indorsement  of 
the  Convention.  And  they  were  for  Cameron.*  He  was  the  only  man, 
they  a  thousand  tiiin.e  said,  who  would  certainly  carry  Pennsylvania. 
They  were  astoiii>hed,  alarmed,  and  maddened  to  find  public  opinion 
settling  down  uptiu  Seward  and  Lincoln,  and  that  one  or  the  other  must 
be  nominated.  They  saw  that  Lincoln  was  understood  to  be  the  only 
man  to  defeat  Seward,  and  thinking  themselves  capable  of  holding  that 
balance  of  power,  so  much  depended  upon,  and  so  deceptive  on  those 
occasions,  stood  out  against  the  Lincoln  combination.  Upon  some  of 
the  delegation,  Seward  operations  had  been  performed  with  perccptil>le 
effect.  The  Seward  men  had  stated  that  the  talk  of  not  carrying  Peno- 
aylvania  was  all  nonsense.  Seward  had  a  good  Tariff  record,  and  his 
frietids  would  spend  money  enough  in  the  State  to  carry  it  agaitist  any 
Democratic   candidate   who  was  a   possibility.     The  flood   of  Seward 

•  It  ban  since  api>*«re(l  from  •  speech  ilpllveri-d  by  Mr  OimTon  at  Harriilmrf,  th.it  S<>w 
ar<l  wan  bin  first  rboicp,  and  <u  bis  opinion  ri>u)<t  carry  Pennsylvania.  Nutlnug  u(  the  kind 
wa«  beard  of  at  Cbicago. 


143 

money  promised  for  Pennsylvania  was  not  without  efficacy.     The  phrase 
used  Was,  that  Seward's  friends  "  would  spend  oceans  of  ttionei/.'' 

The  Wade  niuvement  died  before  this  time.  It  had  a  brilliant  and 
formidable  appearance  for  a  while;  but  the  fact  that  it  originated  at 
Wahhington  was  against  it,  and  the  bitterne.«s  of  those  delegates  from 
Ohio,  who  would  not  in  any  event  go  for  any  man  from  that  State  other 
than  Chase,  and  who  declared  war  to  the  knife  against  Wade,  and  as  a 
second  choice  were  for^  Lincoln  or  Seward,  stifled  the  Wade  project. 

It  does  not  appear  by  the  record  that  "  old  Ben.  Wade  "  ever  stood 
a  chance  for  the  place  now  occupied  by  "old  Abe  Lincoln."  If  his 
friends  in  Ohio  could  have  brought  the  friends  of  Mr.  Chase  to  agree, 
that  the  delegation  should  vote  as  a  unit  every  time  as  the  majority 
should  direct,  W'ade  might  have  been  the  nominee,  and  instead  of  hear- 
ing so  much  of  some  of  the  exploits  of  Mr.  Lincoln  in  rail-splitting, 
when  a  farmer's  boy,  we  should  have  information  concerning  the  labors 
of  Ben.  Wade  on  the  Erie  Canal,  where  he  handled  a  spade.  While 
touching  the  Wade  movement  as  developed  in  the  delegation  from  Ohio, 
it  is  proper  to  give  as  an  explanatory  note  the  fact,  that  at  least  six 
gentlemen  from  Ohio,  who  were  engaged  in  it,  were  understood  to  have 
aspirations  for  the  Senate,  and  to  be  regarding  Mr.  Wade's  chair  in  the 
Senate-chamber  with  covetous  glances.  These  gentlemen  were  D.  K. 
Cartter,  Joshua  R.  Giddings,  C.  P.  Wolcott,  William  Dennison,  jr., 
Tom  Corwin,  and  Columbus  Delano. 

The  cry  of  a  want  of  availability  which  was  from  the  start  raised 
against  Seward,  now  took  a  more  dt-finite  form  than  heretofore.  It  was 
reported,  and  with  a  well-understood  purpose,  that  the  Republican  can- 
didates for  Governor  in  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Pennsylvania  would  re- 
sign, if  Seward  were  nominated.  Whether  they  really  meant  it  or  not, 
the  rumor  was  well  circulated,  and  the  effect  produced  was  as  if  they  had 
been  earnest.  Henry  S.  Lane,  candidate  in  Indiana,  did  say  something 
of  the  kind.  He  asserted  hundreds  of  times  that  the  nomination  of 
Seward  would  be  death  to  him,  and  that  he  might  in  that  case  just  as 
well  give  up  the  canvass.  He  did  not  feel  like  expending  his  time  and 
money  in  carrying  on  a  hopeless  campaign,  and  would  be  disposed  to 
abandon  the  contest. 

The  Chicago  Press  and  Tribune  of  Friday  morning  contained  a  last 
appeal  to  the  Convention  not  to  nominate  Seward.  It  was  evidently 
written  in  a  despairing  state  of  mind,  and  it  simply  begged  that  Seward 
should  not  be  nominated.  The  Cameron  men,  discovering  there  was 
absolutely  no  hope  for  their  man,  but  that  either  Seward  or  Ijincoln  would 
be  nominated,  and  that  speedily,  and  being  a  calculating  company,  were 
persuaded  to  throw  their  strength  for  Lincoln  at  such  a  time  as  to  have 
.  credit  of  his  nomination  if  it  were  made.  There  was  much  difficulty, 
however,  in  arriving  at  this  conclusion,  and  the  wheels  of  the  machine 
did  not  at  any  time  in  Pennsylvania  run  smooth.  On  nearly  every 
ballot,  Pennsylvania  was  not  in  readiness  when  her  name  was  called, 
and  her  retirements  for  consultation  became  a  joke. 

The  Seward  men  generally  abounded  in  confidence  Friday  morning. 
The  air  was  full  of  rumors  of  the  caucusing  the  night  before,  but  the 
opposition  of  the  doubtful  States  to  Seward  was  an  old  story  ;  and  after 


144 

the  distress  of  Pennsylvania,  Indiana  &  Co.,  on  the  subject  of  Seward's 
availiliilit)',  had  been  so  freely  and  ineffectually  expressed  from  the 
start,  it  was  not  imagined  their  protests  would  suddenly  tiecome  effective. 
The  Sewardites  marched  as  usu;d  from  their  head-quarters  at  the  Rich- 
mond House  after  their  magnificent  band,  which  was  brilliantly  uni- 
formed— epaulets  shining  on  their  shoulders,  and  white  and  scarlet 
feathers  waving  from  their  caps — marched  under  the  orders  of  recog- 
nized I'-aders,  in  a  style  that  would  have  done  credit  to  many  volunteer 
military  coni]):inies.  They  were  about  a  thtiusand  strong,  and  protract- 
ing their  march  a  little  too  far,  were  not  all  able  to  get  into  the  wigwam. 
This  was  their  first  misfortune.  They  were  not  where  they  could  scream 
with  the  best  effect  in  responding  to  the  mention  of  the  name  of  Wil- 
liam H.  Seward. 

When  the  Convention  was  called  to  order,  breathless  attention  was 
given  the  proceedings.  There  was  not  a  space  a  foot  square  in  the 
wigwam  unoccupied.  There  were  tens  of  thousands  still  outside,  and 
torrents  of  men  had  rushed  in  at  the  three  broad  doors  until  not  another 
one  could  squeeze  in. 

The  first  tiling  of  interest  was  a  fight  regarding  the  Maryland  delega- 
tion. A  rule  had  been  adopted  th^t  no  delegation  should  cast  more 
votes  than  there  were  duly  accredited  delegates.  The  Maryland  dele- 
gation had  not  been  full,  and  Mr.  Montgomery  Bhir  of  that  .Stjite  now 
wanted  to  fill  up  the  delegation.  Three  of  the  delegates,  who  were 
Seward  men,  opposed  filling  up  the  ranks  with  men,  as  one  of  them  said, 
"  God  Almighty  only  knows  where  they  come  from."  Here  was 
another  Seward  triumph,  for  the  B lairs  were  not  allowed  to  add  te  the 
strength  of  their  Maryland  delegHtion.  It  might  be  said  of  the  lilairs 
and  the  Maryland  delegation  as  Thaddeus  Stevens  said  of  the  Union 
and  Constitutional  Convention  at  Baltimore,  "  It  was  a  family  party — 
it  was  all  there ^ 

Every  body  was  now  impatient  to  begin  the  work.  Mr.  Evarts  of 
New  York  nominated  Mr.  Seward.  Mr.  Judd  of  Illinois  nominated 
Mr.  Lincoln.  Mr.  Dudley  of  New  Jersey  nominated  Mr.  Dayton. 
Mr.  IleeJer  of  Pennsylvania  nominated  Simon  Cauieron.  Mp.  Cartter 
of  Ohio  nominated  Salmon  P.  Cha.se.  Mr.  Caleb  Smith  of  Indiana 
seconded  the  nomination  of  Lincoln.  Mr.  Blair  of  Missouri  nominated 
Edward  Bites.  Mr.  Blair  of  Michigan  seconded  the  nomination  of 
William  H.  Seward.  Mr.  Corwin  of  Ohio  nominated  John  McLean. 
Mr.  Schurz  of  Wisconsin  seconded  the  nomination  of  Seward.  Mr. 
Delano  of  Ohio  seconded  the  nomination  of  Lincoln.  The  only  names 
that  produced  "tremendous  applau.se,"  were  those  of  Seward  and 
Lincoln. 

Every  body  felt  that  the  fight  was  between  them,  and  yelled  accord- 
ingly. 

The  applause,  when  Mr.  Evarts  named  Seward,  was  enthusiastic. 
When  Mr.  Judd  named  Lincoln,  the  roponsc  was  prodigious.  ri,«*ing  and 
raging  far  beyond  the  Seward  shriek.  Presently,  upon  Caleb  B.  Smith 
seconding  the  nomination  of  Lincoln,  the  response  was  al»solutely  ter- 
rific. It  r»ow  became  the  Seward  men  to  make  another  effort,  and  when 
Blair  of  Miehigan  seconded  his  nomination, 


145 


"  At  once  there  rose  so  wild  a  yell. 
Within  that  dark  and  narrow  dell; 
As  all  the  tiends  from  heaven  that  fell 
Had  pealed  the  banner  cry  of  hell." 


The  effect  was  startling.  Hundreds  of  persons  stopped  their  ears  in 
pain.  The  shouting  was  absolutely  frantic,  shrill  and  wild.  No  Ca- 
manches,  no  panthers  ever  struck  a  higher  note,  or  gave  screams  with 
more  infernal  intensity.  Looking  from  the  stage  over  the  vast  amphi- 
theatre, nothing  was  to  be  seen  below  hut  thousands  of  hats — a  black, 
mighty  swarm  of  hats — flying  with  the  velocity  of  hornets  over  a  mass 
of  human  heads,  most  of  the  mouths  of  which  were  open.  Above,  all 
around  the  galleries,  hats  and  handkerchiefs  were  flying  in  the  tempest 
together.  The  wonder  of  the  thing  was,  that  the  Seward  outside 
pressure  should,  so  far  from  New  York,  be  so  powerful. 

Now  the  Lincoln  men  had  to  try  it  again,  and  as  Mr.  Delano  of 
Ohio,  on  behalf  "of  a  portion  of  the  delegation  of  that  State,"  sec- 
onded the  nomination  of  Lincoln,  the  uproar  was  beyond  description. 
Imagine  all  the  hogs  ever  slaughtered  in  Cincinnati  giving  their  death 
squeals  together,  a  score  of  big  steam  whistles  going  (steam  at  IGO  lbs. 
per  inch),  and  you  conceive  something  of  the  same  nature.  I  thought 
the  Seward  yell  could  not  be  surpassed  ;  but  the  Lincoln  boys  were 
clearly  ahead,  and  feeling  their  victory,  as  there  was  a  lull  in  the 
storm,  took  deep  breaths  all  round,  and  gave  a  concentrated  shriek  that 
was  positively  awful,  and  accompanied  it  with  s.tamping  that  made 
every  plank  and  pillar  in  the  building  quiver. 

Henry  S.  Lane  of  Indiana  leaped  upon  a  table,  and  swinging  hat 
and  cane,  performed  like  an  acrobat.  The  presumption  is,  he  shrieked 
with  the  rest,  as  his  mouth  was  desperately  wide  open ;  but  no  one  will 
ever  be  able  to  testify  that  he  has  positive  knowledge  of  the  fact  that 
he  made  a  particle  of  noise.  His  individual  voice  was  lost  in  the  ag- 
grejiate  hurricane. 

The  New  York,  Michigan  and  Wisconsin  delegations  sat  together, 
and  were  in  this  tempest  very  quiet.  Many  of  their  faces  whitened  as 
the  Lincoln  yawj)  swelled  into  a  wild  hozanna  of  victory. 

The  Convention  now  proceeded  to  business.  The  New  England 
States  were  called  first,  and  it  was  manifest  that  Seward  had  not  the 
strength  that  had  been  claimed  for  him  there.  Mdne  gave  nearly  half 
her  vote  for  Lincoln.  New  Hampshire  gave  seven  out  of  her  ten  votes 
for  Lincoln.  Vermont  gave  her  vote  to  her  Senator  Collamer,  which 
was  understood  to  be  merely  complimentary.  It  appeared,  however, 
that  her  delegation  was  hostile  or  indifferent  to  Seward,  otherwi.se  there 
would  have  been  no  complimentary  vote  to  another.  Massachusetts 
was  divided.  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut  did  not  give  Seward  a 
vote.  So  much  for  the  caucusing  the  night  before.  Mr.  Evarts  of 
New  York  rose  and  gave  the  vote  of  that  State,  calmly,  but  with  a 
swelling  tone  of  pride  in  his  voice — "  The  State  of  New  York  casts  her 
seventy  votes  for  William  H.  Seward!''^  The  seventy  votes  was  a 
plumper,  and  there  was  slight  applause,  and  that  rustle  and  vibration  in 
the  audience  indicating  a  sensation.  The  most  significant  vote  was  that 
of  Virginia,  which  had  been  expected  solid  for  Seward,  and  which  now 
gave  him  but  eight  and  gave  Lincoln  fourteen.  The  New  Yorkers 
10 


146 


looked  significantly  at  each  other  as  this  was  announced.  Tlicn  Indiana 
gave  her  twenty  six  votes  for  Lincohi.  This  snlid  vote  was  a  startler, 
and  the  keen  little  eyes  of  Henry  S.  Lime  glittered  as  it  was  given. 
He  was  respon-iible  for  it.  it  was  his  opinion  that  the  man  of  all  the 
land  to  carry  the  State  of  Indiana,  was  Judsie  John  MeLean.  He  also 
thought  Bates  had  eminent  (|ualifications.  But  when  he  fnunfl  that  the 
contest  w^s  between  Seward  and  Lincoln,  he  worked  for  the  latter  as  if 
life  itself  depen'led  upon  success.  The  division  of  the  first  vote  laused 
a  fall  in  Seward  stock.  It  was  seen  that  Lincoln,  Cameron  and  Bates 
had  the  stren!>;th  to  defeat  Seward,  and  it  was  known  that  the  greater 
part  of  the  Chase  vote  would  go  for  Lincoln. 


FIRST   B.iLLOT. 


Staies. 

i 

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a 

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o 

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s 

S3 

O 

a 
o 

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2 

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o 

a- 
c 
§ 

■Z 

a 
o 

S 
o 

b 

a 

MaiDP 

10 

I 

6 
7 

i 

i 

New  Hampshire. . . 

Vermont 

io 

Massacliusotts 

n 

4 

Rhode  Islaud 

i 

5 

i 

i 

Connecticut 

2 

7 

2 

New  York 

70 

New  Jersey    

14 

Peunsyhatiia 

Maryladd  

Delaware 

U 

3 

4 

47J 

's 

i 

Virginia 

8 

i4 

1 

Kentucky 

5 

6 

2 

i 

« 

i 

Ohio 

8 
26 

•• 

4 

34 

Indiana 

Missouri 

is 

Michigan       

i2 

22 

Illinois   

Texas  

4 
10 

2 

Wi8con.sin 

Iowa    

2 

8 

2 

i 

i 

i 

i 

California 

Minnesota 

8 

Oregon  

•  • 

5 

\  ■  • 

Territoriea. 

Kansas    

6 
2 
2 

i 

i 

2 

Nebraska   

Diet,  ol  Columbia  . 

The  Secretary  announced  the  vote  : 

William  TI.  Seward,  of  New  York 173t 

Abraham  Lincoln,  of  Illinois  ...    102 

Blward  Baits,  of  MiH.-<ouri 48 

Simon  (^im  run.  of  I'ennsylvania .50J 

John  Melya-.i.  of  Ohio 12 

Salmon  1'.  Cha.se,  of  Ohio 49 

Benjamin  K.  Wade,  of  Ohio 3 

William  L.  Dayton,  of  New  Jersey 14 


147 


John  M.  Reed,  of  Pennsylvania 1 

Jacob  Colhimer,  of  Vermont 10 

Charles  Sumner,  of  Massachusetts 1 

John  0.  Fremont,  of  California 1 

Whole  number  of  votes  cast,  465  ;  necessary  to  a  choice,  233. 

The  Convention  proceeded  to  a  second  ballot.  Every  man  was 
fiercely  enlisted  in  the  struggle.  The  partisans  of  the  various  candi- 
dates were  strung  up  to  such  a  pitch  of  excitement  as  to  render  them 
incapable  of  patience,  and  the  cries  of  "Call  the  roll"  were  fairly 
hissed  through  their  teeth.  The  fir.^t  gain  for  Lincoln  was  in  New 
Hampshire.  The  Chase  and  the  Fremont  vote  fn  m  that  State  were 
given  h'm.  His  next  gain  was  the  whole  vote  of  Vermont.  This  was 
a  blighting  blow  upon  the  Seward  interest.  The  New  Yorkers  started 
as  if  an  Or-^ini  bomb  had  exploded.  And  presently  the  Camen.n  vote 
of  Pennsjilvania  was  thrown  for  Lincoln,  increasing  his  strenjiih  forty- 
four  votes.  The  fate  of  the  day  was  now  determined.  New  York  saw 
"checkmate"  next  move,  and  sullenly  proceeded  with  the  game,  as- 
suming unconscioupne>s  of  her  inevitable  doom.  On  this  ballot  Lin- 
coln gained  seventy-nine  votes!     Seward  had  184^  voles  ;  Lincoln  181. 

SECONn  BALLOT. 


States. 

1 

10 

1 

d 
"o 
u 
c 

G 

9 
10 
4 
3 
4 

d 

s 
a 

s 

a 
ce 

a3 

.a 
O 

d 
c 

"?■. 

a. 

Maine 

New  Hampshire 

Vermont     

Massachusetts 

22 

Rhode  Island 

2 

3 

2 

Connecticut 

4 

2 

N<'W  York 

70 
4 

3" 

New  Jersey 

10 

Peniisylvauia 

48 

6 
14 

9 
14 

26 

"a 

H 

Mary  land 

Delaware 

8 
7 

1 

6 
29 

Kentucky 

Ohio           

3 

Indiana   

Missouri   

18 

Michigan 

12 

Illinois     

22 

Texas 

6 

10 
2 
8 

8 

Wiscousin 

"s 

Iowa 

1 

•2 

J 

Calilornia     

Minnesota  

Oregou 

5 

Territories. 
Kansas 

6 
3 
2 

Nebraska  

1 

2 

District  of  Columbia. 

(Great  confusion  while  the  ballot  was  being  counted.) 

The  Secretary  auuouuced  the  result  of  the  secoud  ballot  as  follows : 


148 


For  WilHara  H.  Seward  of  New  York,  1845  votes.     [Applause.] 

For  Abraham  Lincoln  of  Illinois,  181  votes.  [Tremendous  ap- 
plause, checked  by  the  Speaker.] 

For  Edward  Bates  of  Missouri,  35  votes. 

For  Simon  Cameron  of  Pennsylvania,  2  votes. 

For  John  McLean  of  Ohio,  8  votes. 

For  Salmon  P.  Chase  of  Ohio,  42|  votes. 

For  William  L.  Dayton  of  New  Jersey,  10  votes. 

For  Cassius  M.  Clay  of  Kentucky,  2  votes. 

Whole  number  of  votes  cast,  465;  necessary  to- a  choice,  233. 

It  now  dawned  upon  the  multitude,  that  the  presumption  entertained 
the  night  before,  that  the  Seward  men  would  have  every  thing  their  own 
way,  was  a  mistake.  Even  persons  unused  to  making  the  calculations 
and  considering-the  combinations  attendant  upon  such  scenes,  could  not 
fail  to  observe  that  while  the  strength  of  Seward  and  Lincoln  was  al- 
most even  at  the  moment,  the  reserved  votes,  by  which  the  contest 
must  be  decided,  were  inclined  to  the  latter.  There,  for  instance,  was 
the  Bites  vote,  thirty-five;  the  McLean  vote,  eight ;  the  Dayton  vote, 
ten — all  impending  for  Lincoln — and  forty-two  Chase  votes,  the  greater 
part  going  the  same  way. 


THUID   BALLOT. 


States. 

1 

a> 

at 

pq 

to 
a 

o 

"o 
o 

c 

6 
9 
10 
8 
5 
4 

a 
es 
o 
►J 

Q 

Maine .         . .       

10 

I 

Now  Hampshire         ...           

Vermont      .        

18 
1 
1 

70 
5 

Rhode  iBlaud 

'4" 

1 

2 

1 

Now  York 

.... 

New  Jersey   

8 
52 
9 
() 
14 
13 
29 
26 

"2* 

Pennsylvania   

Miiryluiid    .            

2 

Delaware 

Virginia    

8 
6 

Kentucky  

4 
15 

Ohio 

2 

Indiana  

Missouri 

18 

Michigan     

12 

IlUaoiH 

22 

Texas  

6 
10 
2 
8 
8 
1 

6 
3 
2 

180 

Wisconsin 

Iowa    

i 

5J 

California                 

Minnesota 

Orecou 

4 

Terrilories. 
Kansas 

Nebraska 

2 

1 

District  of  Columbia 

Total 

22 

24J 

231J 

6        1 

1 

i  149 

While  this  ballot  was  taken  amid  excitement  <hat  tested  the  nerves, 
the  fatal  detection  from  Seward  in  New  England  still  further  appeared 
— four  votes  going  over  from  Seward  to  Lincoln  in  Massachusetts. 
The  latter  received  four  additional  votes  from  Pennsylvania  and  fifteen 
additional  votes  from  Ohio.  It  was  whispered  about — "  Lincoln's  the 
coming  man — will  be  nominated  this  ballot."  When  the  roll  of  States 
and  Territories  had  been  called,  I  had  ceased  to  give  attention  to  any 
votes  but  those  for  Lincoln,  and  had  his  vote  added  up  as  it  was  givet). 
The  number  of  votes  necessary  to  a  choice  were  two  hundred  and  thir- 
ty-three, and  I  saw  under  my  pencil  as  the  Lincoln  column  was  com- 
pleted, the  figures  231  d — one  vote  and  a  half  to  give  him  the  nomina- 
tion. In  a  moment  the  fact  was  whispered  about.  A  hundred  pencils 
had  told  the  same  story.  The  news  went  over  the  house  wonderfully, 
and  there  was  a  pause.  There  are  always  men  anxious  to  distinguish 
themselves  on  such  occasions.  There  is  nothing  that  politicians  like 
better  than  a  crisis.  I  looked  up  to  see  who  would  be  the  man  to  give 
the  decisive  vote.  The  man  for  the  crisis  in  the  Cincinnati  Conven- 
tion— all  will  remember — was  Col.  Preston  of  Kentucky.  He  broke 
the  Douglas  line  and  precipitated  the  nomination  of  Buchanan,  and 
was  rewarded  with  a  foreign  mission.  In  about  ten  ticks  of  a  watch, 
Cartter  of  Ohio  was  up.  I  had  imagined  Ohio  would  be  slippery 
enough  for  the  crisis.  And  sure  enough  !  Every  eye  was  on  Cartter, 
and  every  body  who  understood  the  matter  at  all,  knew  what  he  was 
about  to  do.  He  is  a  large  man  with  rather  striking  features,  a  shock 
of  bristling  black  hair,  large  and  shining  eyes,  and  is  terribly  marked 
with  the  small-pox.  He  has  also  an  impediment  in  his  speech,  which 
amounts  to  a  stutter;  and  his  selection  as  chairman  of  the  Ohio  delega- 
tion was,  considering  its  condition,  altogether  appropriate.  He  had 
been  quite  noisy  during  the  sessions  of  the  Convention,  but  had  never 
commanded,  when  mounting  his  chair,  such  attention  as  now.  He 
said,  "I  rise  (eh),  Mr.  Chairman  (eh),  to  announce  the  change  of  four 
votes  of  Ohio  from  Mr.  Chase  to  Mr.  Lincoln."  The  deed  was  done. 
There  was  a  moment's  silence.  The  nerves  of  the  thousands,  which 
through  the  hours  of  suspense  had  been  subjected  to  terrible  tension, 
relaxed,  and  as  deep  breaths  of  relief  were  taken,  there  was  a  noii^^e  in 
the  wigwam  like  the  rush  of  a  great  wind,  in  the  van  of  a  storm — and 
in  another  breath,  the  storm  was  there.  There  were  thousands  cheer- 
ing with  the  energy  of  insanity. 

A  man  who  had  been  on  the  roof,  and  was  engaged  in  communicating 
the  results  of  the  ballotings  to  the  mighty  mass  of  outsiders,  now  de- 
manded by  gestures  at  the  sky-light  over  the  stage,  to  know  what  had 
happened.  One  of  the  Secretaries,  with  a  tally  sheet  in  his  hands, 
shouted — "  Fire  the  Salute  !  Abe  Lincoln  is  nominated  !  "  As  the 
cheering  inside  the  wigwam  subsided,  we  could  hear  that  outside,  where 
the  news  of  the  nomination  had  just  been  anuounced.  And  the  roar, 
like  the  breaking  up  of  the  fountains  of  the  gieat  deep  that  was  heard, 
gave  a  new  impulse  to  the  enthusiasm  inside.  Then  the  thunder  of  the 
salute  rose  above  the  din,  and  the  shouting  was  repeated  with  such  tre- 
mendous fury  that  some  discharges  of  the  cannon  were  absolutely  not 


150 

heanl  by  those  on  the  stage.  Paffn  of  smoke,  drifting  by  the  open 
dour-,  and  the  sinell  of  gunpowder,  told  wh;it  was  going  on. 

The  niOMient  that  half  u  dozen  men  who  were  on  their  chairs  making 
motions  at  the  President  could  be  heard,  they  changed  the  votes  of 
their  Status  to  Mr.  Lincoln.  This  was  a  mere  formality,  and  was  a 
chea|>  way  for  men  to  disringui>h  them>elve8.  The  propir  and  orderly 
proceeding  would  have  been  to  annouce  the  vote,  and  then  for  a  motion 
to  come  from  New  York  to  make  the  nomination  unaninxms.  New 
York  was  prepared  to  nuke  this  motion,  but  not  out  of  order.  Mis- 
souri, Iowa,  Kentucky,  Minnesota,  Virginia,  California,  Texas,  District 
of  Columbia,  Kansas,  Nebraska  and  Oregon,  insisted  upon  ca.sting 
unanimous  votes  for  Old  Abe  Lincoln  before  the  vote  was  declared. 

While  these  votes  were  being  given,  the  applau.se  continued,  and  a 
photiigniph  of  Abe  Lincoln  which  had  hung  in  one  of  the  .-ide  rooms 
was  brought  in,  and  held  up  before  the  surging  and  screaming  masses. 
The  places  of  the  various  delegations  were  indicated  by  stiiffi,  to  which 
were  ittached  the  names  of  the  States,  printed  in  large  black  letters  on 
pasteboard.  As  the  Linci>ln  enthusiasm  increased,  delegates  tore  the.se 
standards  of  the  States  from  their  places  and  swung  them  about  their 
heads.  A  rush  was  made  to  get  the  New  York  standard  anil  swing  it 
with  the  re»t,  but  the  New  Yorkers  would  not  allow  it  to  be  moved,  and 
were  wrathful  at  the  suggestion. 

Wheti  the  vote  was  declared,  Mr.  Evarts,  the  New  York  spokesman, 
mounted  the  Secretaries'  table  and  handsomely  and  impressively  ex- 
pressed his  grief  at  the  failure  of  the  Convention  to  nominate  Seward — 
and  in  melancholy  tones,  moved  that  the  nouiiuution  be  made  uuani- 
mo'is. 

Mr.  Andrew  of  Massachusetts  seconded  the  motion  in  a  speech,  in 
which  his  vanity  as  a  citizen  of  the  commonwealth  of  Massachusetts 
was  ventilated,  and  he  said  it  iuul  not  been  for  old  Massachu.»e!ts  to 
strike  down  William  Henry  Seward,  concluding  by  a  promise  to  give 
the  nominee  of  that  Convention  one  hundred  thousand  majority. 

Carl  S(;hiirz.  on  behalf  of  Wisconsin,  again  secondeil  the  motion,  but 
not  so  eff'Ctively  in  his  speech  as  his  reputation  as  an  orator  would  have 
warranteil  us  in  expecting.  There  was  a  little  clap-trap  and  something 
of  anti-climax  in  shouting  "Lincoln  and  victory,"  and  talking  of  "de- 
fying the  whole  slave  power  and  the  whole  vassalage  of  hell." 

M    IJlair  of  i\L.higin  made  the  speech  of  the  hour.     Ue  said: 

"  Michigan,  from  first  to  la.st,  has  cast  her  vote  for  the  great  States- 
man of  New  York.  She  has  nothing  to  take  back.  She  has  not  sent 
me  forward  to  worship  tlie  ri.-ing  sun,  but  she  has  put  me  forward  to 
say  that,  at  your  behests  here  to-day,  she  lays  down  her  first,  best  loved 
candiilate  to  take  up  yours,  with  .Mjine  l)eating  of  the  heart,  with  some 
quivering  in  the  veins  [much  apfilause]  ;  but  she  does  not  fear  that  the 
fame  of  Sewanl  will  suff,r,  for  .-be  knows  that  his  fame  is  a  portion  of 
the  history  of  the  American  Union  ;  it  will  be  written,  and  read,  and 
beloved  long  after  the  temporary  excitement  of  this  day  has  pa.s«.ed 
away,  and  when  ProidenUs  tliein-elves  are  forgotten  in  the  oblivion 
which   conies  over  all  temporal   things.     We  stand  by  him   still.      We 


151 

have  followed  him  with  an  eye  single  and  with  unwavering  faith  in  timea 
past.  We  miirtial  now  behind  hiiu  in  the  grand  column  which  shall 
go  out  to  battle  for  Lincoln." 

After  a  rather  dull  speech  from  Mr.  Browning  of  Illinois,  respond- 
ing in  behalf  of  Lincoln,  the  nomination  was  made  unanimous,  and  the 
Convention  adjourned  for  dinner.  The  town  was  full  of  the  news  of 
Lincoln's  nomination,  and  could  hardly  contain  itself.  There  were 
bands  of  music  playing,  and  processions  marching,  and  joyous  cries 
beard  on  every  hand,  from  the  army  of  trumpeters  for  Lini-oln  of  Illi-~ 
nois,  and  the  thousands  who  are  always  enthusiastic  on  the  winning 
side.  But  hundreds  of  men  who  had  been  in  the  wigwam  were  so  pros- 
trated by  the  excitement  they  had  endured,  and  their  exertions  in 
shrieking  for  Seward  or  Lincoln,  that  they  were  hardly  able  to  walk  to 
their  hoi'els.  There  were  men  who  had  not  tasted  liquor,  who  staizgercd 
about  like  drunkards,  unable  to  manage  themselves.  The  Seward  men 
were  terribly  stricken  down.  They  were  mortified  beyond  all  expres- 
sion, and  walked  thouiihtfully  and  silently  away  from  the  slaughter- 
house, more  ashamed  than  embittered.  They  acquiesced  in  the  nomi- 
nation, but  did  not  pretend  to  be  pleased  with  it;  and  the  tone  of  their 
conversations,  as  to  the  prospect  of  electing  the  candidate,  was  not 
hopeful.     It  was  their  funeral,  and  they  would  not  make  merry. 

A  Lincoln  man  who  could  hardly  believe  that  the  "Old  Abe"  of  his 
adoration  was  really  the  Republican  nominee  for  the  Presidency,  took  a 
chair  at  the  dinner-table  at  the  Tremont  House,  and  began  talking  to 
those  around  him,  with  none  of  whom  he  was  acquainted,  of  the  great- 
ness of  the  events  of  the  day  One  of  his  expressions  was,  "Talk  of 
your  money  and  bring  on  your  bullies  with  you  ! — the  immortal  princi- 
ples of  the  everlasting  people  are  with.Al)e  Lincoln,  of  the  people, 
by  — ."  "Abe  Lincoln  has  no  money  and  no  bullies,  but  he  has  the 
people  by  — ."  A  servant  approached  the  eloquent  patriot  and  asked 
what  he  would  have  to  eat.  Being  thus  recalled  to  temporal  things  he 
glared  scornfully  at  the  servant  and  roared  out,  "  Go  to  the  devil — 
what  do  I  want  to  eat  for?  Abe  Lincoln  is  nominated,  G —  d —  it; 
and  I'm  going  to  live  on  air — the  air  of  Liberty  by  — ."  But  in  a 
moment  he  inquired  for  the  bill  of  fare,  and  then  ordered  "a  great  deal 
of  every  thing" — f-aying  if  be  must  eat  he  might  as  well  eat  "the 
whole  bill  "  He  swure  he  felt  as  if  he  could  "devour  and  digest  an 
Illinois  prairie."      And  this  was  one  of  thousands. 

During  the  dinner  recess  a  caucus  of  the  Presidents  of  delegations 
was  held,  and  New  York,  though  requested  to  do  so,  would  not  name  a 
candidate  for  the  Vice-Presidency.  After  dinner  we  had  the  last  act  in 
the  drauia. 

The  nomination  of  Vice-President  was  not  particularly  exciting. 
Cassius  M.  Clay  was  the  only  competitor  of  Hamlin,  who  made  any 
show  in  the  race  ;  and  the  outside  pressure  was  fur  him.  At  one  time 
a  thousand  voices  called  "Clay  !  Clay  !"  to  the  Convention.  If  the 
multitude  could  have  had  their  way,  Mr.  Clay  would  have  been  put  on 
the  ticket  by  acclamation.  But  it  was  stated  that  Mr.  Hamlin  was  a 
good  friend  of  Mr.  Seward.     He  was  geographically  distant  from  Lin- 


152 


eoln,  and  was  once  a  Democrat.  It  was  deemed  jadicioas  to  pretend 
to  patronize  the  Democratic  element,  and  thus  consolidate  those  who 
were  calling  the  Convention  an  "old  Whig  concern."  They  need  not 
have  been  afraid,  however,  of  having  it  called  an  old  Whig  affair,  for 
it  was  not  "eminently  respectable,"  nor  distinguished  for  its  "  dignity 
and  decorum."  On  the  other  hand,  the  Satanic  element  was  very 
strongly  developed. 


FIKST  BALLOT   FOR  VICE-PKESIDEST. 


States. 

S 

S 
1 

OS 

■c 

B 
03 

n 

o 

a. 

a 

OS 

E 

.14 
u 

s 

c 

S 

03 

w 

0 

,2 

ei 

s 
0 

d 

Maine 

16 

10 

10 

1 

8 

5 

35 

6 

11 

8 

2 

New  IlampsLire 

Vermont  

Ma.'i.«achusett9 

20 

1 

1 

Rhode  Island 

Connecticut 

2 
9 
1 

4i 
2' 

a 

23 

'I 

18 

1 

4 

'2 

7 
24 

2 
11 

"7" 
1 
1 

New  York 

1 

8 

New  Jersey 

Pennsylvaaia 

8 

Maryland 

Delaware 

Virginia 

Kentucky 

Ohio 

46 
8 

Indiana 

Missouri 

9 

9 

Michigan 

4 
2 

8 
2 

IllinoiH 

10 

2 

Texas 

a 

Wisconsin 

5 

5 
6 

Iowa 

1 

8 

1 
3 

6 
6 

California 

Minnepota 

1 

"i 

6 

1 

Oregon 

. . . . 

Territories. 
Kansas 

Nebraska 

1 
2 

District  of  Columbia 

38  i 

'^^ 

58 

194 

1   1     « 

8 

6 

' 

163 


SECOND   BALLOT   FOR   VICE-PRESIDENT. 


States. 

8 

16 
10 
10 

2G 
8 
10 
70 
U 
54 
10 
6 

s 

Maine   

New  Hiimpshire         .       

Vermont 

Massachusetts , 

Rhode  Island 

Connecticut 

2 

New  York 

New  Jersey  

Pennsylvania  

Maryland 

1 

Delaware                                                      

Virginia 

23 
23 

Kentucky  

Ohio 

46 
12 
13 

8 
20 

Indiana 

14 
5 
4 
2 
6 
5 

Missouri ... 

Michigan 

Texas 

5 

8 
7 
7 
3 

2 

Iowa   .     . .                              

1 
1 

1 

Minnesota 

2 

Terriiories. 

3 

Nebraska 

6 

2 
367 

86 

13 

During  this  "ballot  the  name  of  N.  P.  Banks  was  withdrawn.  As 
this  was  done,  Gen.  Nje  of  New  York  cried  out,  "That's  a  good  thing 
done — one  of  the  conspirators  gone  to  h — ,  thank  God!" 

The  fact  of  the  Convention,  was  the  defeat  of  Seward  rather  than 
the  nomination  of  Lincoln.  It  was  the  triumph  of  a  presumption  of 
availability  over  pre-eminence  in  intellect  and  unrivaled  fame — a  suc- 
cess of  the  ruder  qualities  of  manhood  and  the  more  homely  attributes 
of  popularity,  over  the  arts  of  a  consummate  politician,  and  the  splendor 
of  accomplished  statesmanship. 

Now  that  the  business  of  the  Convention  was  transacted,  we  had  the 
usual  stump  speeches,  and  complimentary  resolutions,  and  the  valedic- 
tory from  the  chairman,  and  the  "three  times  three"  upon  adjournment 
for  the  candidate. 

The  city  was  wild  with  delight.  The  "Old  Abe  "  men  formed  pro- 
cessions, and  bore  rails  through  the  streets.  Torrents  of  liquor  were 
poured  down  the  hoarse  throats  of  the  multitude.  A  hundred  guns 
were  fired  from  the  top  of  the  Treraont  House.  The  Chicago  Press  and 
Tribune  oflBce  was  illuminated.     That  paper  says: 

"On   each  side  of  the  counting-room  door  stood  a  rail — out  of  the 


154 

three  tboiifsancl  split  by  'honest  Old  Abe'  thirty  years  aj;o  on  the 
Sang;imon  River  bottoms.  On  the  inside  were  two  more,  brilliantly 
hun<;  with  tapers." 

I  loft  the  ciry  on  the  night  train  on  the  Fort  Wnviie  and  Chicago 
road.  The  train  consisted  of  eleven  cars,  every  seat  full  and  people 
standing  in  the  aisles  and  corners.  I  never  before  saw  a  company  of 
persons  so  prostrated  by  continued  excitement.  The  Lincoln  njen  were 
not  able  to  respond  to  the  cheers  which  went  up  along  the  road  for 
"old  Abe."  They  had  not  only  done  their  duty  in  that  respect,  but 
exhausted  their  c.ipacity.  At  every  station  where  there  was  a  village, 
until  after  two  o'clock,  there  were  tar  barrels  burning,  drums  beat- 
ing, boys  carrying  rails;  and  guns,  great  and  small,  banging  away. 
The  weary  passengers  were  allowed  no  rest,  but  plagued  by  the  thun- 
dering j  ir  of  cannon,  the  clamor  of  drums,  the  jilare  of  bonfires,  and 
the  whooping  of  the  boys,  who  were  delighted  with  the  idea  of  a  can- 
didate for  the  Presidency,  who  thirty  years  ago  split  rails  on  the  Sanga- 
mon River — classic  stream  now  and  for  evermore — andwhose  neighbors 
named  him  "honest." 


CONSTITUTIONAL  DEMOCRATIC   CONVENTION   AT 
RICHMOND. 


The  address  issued  by  distinguished  Southern  Congressmen,  urging 
that  the  Richmond  Convention  should  not  tran>act  any  bu&ini'SS,  but 
adjourn  to  Baltimore  and  make  there  a  final  effort  to  preserve  the  har- 
mony and  unity  of  the  Democratic  party  by  the  defeat  of  Mr  Douglas, 
had  the  iffct  of  pi  eventing  a  large  representation  of  the  Southern 
wing  of  tlie  party  at  Richmond.  Instead  of  attempting  to  make  the 
Richmond  Convention  an  affair  of  substantive  importance,  the  aim  of 
those  who  had  it  in  charge,  was  to  so  manage  the  preliminaries  that  it 
should  transact  no  business.  The  people  of  Richmond  were  not  much 
intercepted  in  it,  and  no  preparations  whatever  were  made  for  it  until 
the  Saturday  before  the  Convention  assembled,  when  a  hall  was  engaged. 

FIRST    DAY. 

The  Convention  assembled  at  Metropolitan  ITall  at  noon  on  IMonday, 
the  11th  of  June.  Lieut.  Gov.  Lubliock  of  Texas  was  called  to  the 
chair,  as  temporary  chairman.  He  acknowledg«'d  the  compliment  in 
becoming  terms — said  they  met  in  the  same  spirit  in  which  they  had 
met  in  Cliarle.stun.      He  said  : 

"  We  have  met  here  to-day,  as  we  did  there,  to  carry  out  our  princi- 


155 

pies,  whatever  may  be  the  result.  [Applause]  I  trust  we  have  come 
here  for  no  compromises  of  the  Constitution.      [Applause.] 

"  If  we  cannot  succeed  in  sustaining  those  principles,  we  must  create 
— no,  we  will  not  '  create '  a  new  Democratic  party,  but  we  will 
simply  declare  ourselves  the  true  Democratic  party,  and  we  will  unfurl 
our  b inner,  and  go  to  the  country  upon  true  Democratic  principles." 
[Applause.] 

Tbe  States  were  called  for  delegates,  and  New  York  answering  by  a 
young  man  in  a  corner,  produced  a  sensation.  Tbe  following  are  the 
documents  presented  by  the  State  of  New  York,  and  they  are  curiosities 
in  their  way : 

New  York,  June  8,  1860. 

This  is  to  certify,  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  the  National  Demo- 
cratic Hall  of  the  State  of  New  Yorlj,  held  in  the  city  of  New  York,  they 
recomineiidi'd  to  the  association  the  t'oUowiuj;  names  as  delegates  and  alternates 
to  represent  them  at  the  Richmond  Coiiveution,  for  the  nomination  of  candidates 
for  PresidtMit  and  Vice-President  of  these  United  States,  with  power  to  add  to 
their  number,  or  till  vacancies  : 

DekD'des — Col.  Baldwin,  Isaac  Lawrence,  Jas.  B.  Bensel,  James  Villiers. 

Alternates — Neare  Drake  Parson,  James  S.  Selby,  M.  Dudley  Bean,  Alfred  W. 
Gilbert. 

New  York,  June  8th,  1860. 
This  is  to  certify,  that  Hon.  Gideon  J.  Tucker,  and  Dr.  Charles  Edward  Lewis 
Stuart,  were,  at  a  meeting  of  the  above  association,  made  delegates  at  large  from 
the  association. 

Samuel  B.  "Williams,  Chairman  of  Trustees. 
Wm.  Beach  Lawrence,  Jr.,  Chairman  of  Ex.  Com. 
Thaddeus  p.  Mott,  Chairman  of  Association. 
Secretary  of  Trustees,  M.  Dldley  Bean. 
Secretary  of  Executive  Committee,  Jas.  B.  Bensel. 
Secretary  of  Association,  J.  Lawrence. 

Mr.  Fisher  of  Virginia  responded  for  that  State,  producing  loud 
applause.  He  was  the  only  Virginian  who  seceded,  and  hence  was  a 
lion  at  that  moment. 

A  despatch  was  received,  saying  Florida  delegates  were  coming. 
The  following  is  the  list  of  delegates  made  out  this  day  by  the  Secre- 
taries : 

Alabama.— A  B.  Meek,  W.  L.  Yancey,  D.  W.  Baine.F.  S.  Lyon,  R.  G.  Scott, 
J.  W.  Portis.  N.  H.  R.  Dawson,  T.  J.  Burnett,  Eli  S.  Shorter,  D.  W.  Williams.  J. 
C.  B.  Mitchell,  Wm.  C.  Penick,  A.  S.  Van  Degraaf.  John  Erwin,  John  E.  Moore, 
E.  W.  Kennedy,  Robt.  T.  Scott,  R.  Chapman,  Winfleld  Mason,  W.  P.  Browne,  D, 
-W.  Boz(;man. 

M[ssi,ssii>p[. —  Geo.  H.  Gordon,  E.  Barksdale,  W.  F.  Barry,  H.  C.  Chambers, 
Jos.  R,  Davis,  Bevi  rly  Matthews. 

Louisiana. —  V.  Martin,  John  Tarleton.  Richard  Taylor,  Emile  LaSere.  F.  H. 
Hatch,  E.  Lawrence,  A.  Talbot,  B.  W.  Pearce,  R.  A.  Hunter,  D.  D,  Withers, 
Charles  Jones,  J.  A  McHutton. 

South  Cauolina. — Principals:  Hon.  R.  B.  Rhett,  Hon.  A  C.  Garlington,  Hon. 
J.  J.  Middl  ton,  A.  Bush,  J.  A.  Dargan.  Col.  W.  S.  Mnllins.  Gen.  W.  E.  Martin, 
C.  M.  Furmaii,  G"n.  D.  F.  Jamison.  Col.  A.  P.  Aldrich,  W.  D.  Simpson,  D.  B. 
AV^xldo,  Hon.  A.  P.  Calhoun,  William  (;hoice.  Col.  E.  Jones,  Maj  A.  H.  Boykin. 
Allernaten:  Hon.  W.  D.  Porter,  Col.  John  S.  Sloan,  Col.  Allen  McFarlan,  Hon. 
G.  A.  Trenholm,  ileury  Mclvor,  J.  G.  Pressly,  Hon.  J.  E.  Carew,  S.  W.  Barker, 


156 

Hon.  J.  Tfiwnpcnd,  Hon.  E.  Martin,  J.  D.  Nance,  D.  W.  Aikon,  W.  K.  P^apcly. 
Gi-n.  S.  U.  Gi.^t,  U.  A.  Spring's,  Maj.  N.  U.  EameP. 

Geukuia. — Htnry  L.  lienning,  ^it•l^^ou  Fill,  E.  J.  McGeehec,  John  A.  Jones, 
John  0.  Nichols. 

Tk.\.\s.— G.  M.  Bryan,  F.  S.  Stockdale,  H.  K.  Kunnils.  J.  F.  Crosby,  F.  R. 
Lubbock. 

Mr.  Mott  of  New  York  undertook  to  explain  to  the  Convention  the 
position  of  the  delegation  from  that  State.  He  said  the  National  Dem- 
ocratic AK.^ociation  of  New  York  had  held  a  meeting,  and  appointed 
them  delegates  and  alternates,  and  that  fifteen  out  of  sixteen  members 
of  the  State  Central  Committee  were  in  favor  of  a  representation  of  the 
Democracy  at  Kichniond.  He  cloFcd,  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
country,  with  something  about  the  Union  His  remarks  were  received 
respectfully,  but  incredulously.  It  was  singular  that  a  delegation 
should  arrive  from  New  York,  when  such  a  thing  as  a  movement  in 
that  State  regarding  the  Richmond  Convention  had  not  been  heard  of. 
Motions  were  carried  to  form  committees  on  Organization  and  Creden- 
tials.    Thn.se  committees  were  organized  as  follows  : 

Committee  on  Pkrmaxent  Org.\nizatiox — Mississippi,  "W.  L. 
Barry  ;  Louisiana,  R.  A.  Hunter ;  Alabama,  Robt.  G.  Scott  ;  Tennes- 
eee,  W.  T.  Helms  ;  Texas,  J.  F.  Crosby ;  Georgia,  John  A.  Jones ; 
Virginia.  M.  W.  Fisher  ;  South  Carolina,  A.  P.  Calhoun  ;  Arkansas, 
Van  H.  Manning ;  New  York,  Thaddeus  P.  Mott. 

CoMMiTTKE  ON  CREDENTIALS — South  Carolina,  John  J.  Middleton  ; 
Tennessee,  George  W.  Brodfield  ;  Alabama,  D.  W.  Buin  ;  Georgia, 
Dr.  Edmund  J.  McGeehce  ;  Louisiana,  F.  H.  Hatch  ;  Texas.  T.  S. 
Stockdell ;  Mississippi,  Beverly  Matthews ;  Arkansas,  Van  H.  Man- 
ning. 


SECOND    DAY. 

Mr.  Smith  of  Alabama  desired  to  have  his  name  recorded.  Agreed 
to.  The  Florida  delegates  had  now  arrived.  Mr.  Calhoun  of  South 
Carolina — son  of  John  C.  Calhoun — chairman  of  the  committee  on 
Organization,  submitted  the  following  report : 

Your  committee  reppcctfuUy  report  the  name  of  the  Hon.  John  Erwin  of 
Alaliama  a?  permanent  President  of  your  Convention,  and  the  following  named 
persons  as  Vice-Presidents  : 

H.  R.  llimnels  of  Texas,  W.  S.  Featherston  of  Mississippi,  M.  W.  Fisher  of 
Virginia,  Hon.  R.  G.  8cott  of  Alabama.  N.  15.  Ibnrows  of  Arkansas.  IJ.  F. 
AVardlaw  of  Florida,  Gen.  A.  C.  Garlington  of  South  Carolina.  D.  H.  Cum- 
mings  of  Tennessee,  P.Tracy  of  Georgia,  E.  LaSere  of  Louisiana. 

And  the  following  aB  Secretaries  : 

U.  H.  Tyson  of  Mississijjpi,  Dr.  A.  C.  Smith  of  Virginia.  G.  W.  Prndfield  of 
Tennessee,  A.  S.  Vandergratf  of  Alal)ama,  ('has.  Dyke  of  Florida.  .I<ilin  Col)b 
of  Georgia,  Henry  Mclver  of  South  Carolina,  D.  D.  Withers  of  Louisiana, 
Van  H.  Manning  of  Arkansas. 

The  committee  would  further  recommend  the  rules  adopted  at  Cincinnati  in 
18.'>6.  a.s  the  rules  for  the  government  of  this  Convention. 

Your  committee  beg  leave  to  report,  as  a  basis  of  representation,  (hat  where 
a  State  is  represented  as  a  whole,  the  delegation  present  shall  cast   the   entire 


157 

vote  of  said  State,  according  to  the  Congressional  basis;  and  in  such  cases  as 
there  are  delegates  from  a  district  of  the  State  present,  said  delegate  or  dele- 
gates shall  be  entitled  to  cast  the  vote  of  said  district. 

ANDREW  E.  CALHOUN. 

Mr.  Erwin  upon  taking  the  chair  made  a  brief  speech.  He  said  they 
were  there  to  vindicate  the  Constitution  and  assert  the  rights  of  the 
South  under  it.     He  said  further  : 

"At  Charleston  we  exerted  ourselves  assiduously,  earnestly,  for  days 
and  weeks,  hoping  that  we  might  agree — that  we  might  concur  with  the 
majority  of  that  body — that  they  would  concede  to  us  what  seemed,  to 
our  apprehension,  to  clearly  belong  to  us.  But,  governed  by  objects  of 
self — of  personal  aggrandizement — they  sternly  refused.  We  had  no 
alternative  left  but  to  pursue  the  course  that  we  did  pursue,  and  we  are 
happy  now  to  announce  that  our  conduct  has  been  approved  by  our  con- 
stituents.     [Great  applause.] 

"  It  is  proposed  here,  as  I  understand,  that  we  shall  not  act  definitely 
— that  we  shall  make  one  more  attempt  at  reconciliation.  Gentlemen, 
I  neither  commend  nor  condemn  that  course.  Every  gentleman  will  be 
governed  by  his  own  views  of  what  is  right.  But  we  must  yield  noth- 
ing, whether  we  remain  here,  or  whether  we  go  elsewhere.  Wherever 
we  go,  we  must  demand  the  full  measure  of  our  rights.  [Applause.] 
Tbe  serpent  of  '  Squatter  Sovereignty  '  must  be  strangled.  [Vehe- 
ment applause.]  What  !  are  we  to  be  told  that  we  are  not  to  go  into 
the  Territories  and  enjoy  equal  rights,  when  that  principle  has  been 
settled  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  our  country?  " 

Mr.  Middleton  of  South  Carolina  stated  the  case  of  tbe  New  York 
Commissioners.     He  said  : 

"  Mr.  President,  in  going  into  this  matter  the  committee  was  informed 
that  the  gentlemen  therein  named  did  not  claim  seats  in  this  body  as 
delegates  and  alternates,  but  came  here  simply  as  commissioners  to  ad- 
vise with  this  body  as  to  the  course  of  its  proceeding." 

This  it  was  proclaimed  was  done  in  "  entire  courtesy,"  but  it  was  a 
quiet  way  of  getting  rid  of  the  New  Yorkers  who  were  now,  by  resolu- 
tion, invited  to  take  seats  upon  the  floor  of  the  Convention. 

Mr.  Hatch — Mr.  President,  after  consulting  with  the  large  number 
of  delegates  from  the  different  States,  I  beg  leave  to  offer  the  following 
resolutions,  which,  I  believe,  will  accomplish  the  general  purposes  and 
wishes  of  this  Coavention  : 

1.  Resolved,  That  as  the  delegations  from  all  the  States  represented  in  this 
Convention  are  assembled  upon  the  basis  of  the  platform  recommended  by  a 
majority  of  the  States  at  Charleston,  we  deem  it  unnecessary  to  take  any  further 
action  upon  that  suViject  at  the  present  time. 

2.  R/'nolvrd.  That  when  this  Convention  adjourn,  it  adjourn  t«  meet  in  this 
city  on  Jlonday,  the  25th  inst. ;  provided  that  the  President  of  this  Convention 
may  call  it  together  at  an  earlier  or  later  day,  if  it  be  deemed  necessary. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  have  it  declared  that  that  Convention  in- 
dorsed the  majority  report  of  a  platform  made  at  Charleston,  but  this 
was  overruled,  on  the  ground  that  it  had,  upon  consultation  by  an  in- 
formal committee,  been  determined  to  take  no  action  whatever.  A  mo- 
tion to  raise  a  select  committee  to  consider  what  should  be  done,  was 


158 

met  by  the  assurance  that  an  informal  committee  had  gathered  the  Fense 
of  the  Convention,  and  that  it  was  agreed  nothing  was  to  be  done. 
Mr.  HuntiT  of  Louisiana  said  in  this  connection,  upon  the  proposition 
to  indorse  the  majority  phitform  reported  at  Charleston  : 

"  I  was  desirous  that  not  one  word  should  be  said  upon  this  subject, 
when  the  resolutions  were  reported,  but  that  we  should  accept  them  in 
the  spirit  of  harmony  which  has  characterized  our  deliberations  so  far. 
I  hope  the  ainer.dnient  will  not  be  pressed.  There  is  no  difficulty  ex- 
cept upon  one  point,  and  I  hope  that  amendment  will  not  be  pressed, 
for  we  desire  earnestly  that  no  discussion  should  take  place  in  regard  to 
the  matter.  We  are  sati.-fied  with  the  resolutions,  aiid  will  accept  them  ; 
we  do  not  desire  to  go  further." 

Some  conversational  debate  occurred  on  the  proposition  to  give  the 
President  of  the  Convention  discretionary  power  in  calling  it  together 
upon  adjournmeut.  Mr.  Jones  of  Georgia,  in  the  course  of  a  speech, 
said  : 

We  want  other  States  to  come  in  with  us  and  have  their  voices 
heard  in  this  important  matter  ;  we  ought  not  to  preclude  them  by  any 
declarations  in  advance.  That  is  all.  What  is  fair,  is  fair.  We  ask 
Virginia,  North  Carolina,  Maryland,  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  to  come 
in  here. 

A  Voice — Missouri  and  Delaware. 

Mr.  Jones — Ves,  Missouri  and  Delaware  unite  with  us  in  counsel. 

The  first  resolution  was  agreed  to,  and  Mr.  Mullins  of  South  Caro- 
lina moved  that  the  second  retolution  be  amended  by  striking  out 
"  25th  "  and  inserting  "  21st."  South  Carolina  called  for  the  vote  by 
States — that  that  State  might  appear  upon  the  record  as  opposed  to  ad- 
journment. He  withdrew  his  call,  however,  and  the  resolution  was 
adopted  by  acclamation. 

The  committee  on  Credentials  was  now  called  upon  for  a  report,  and 
reported  that  the  following  States  and  districts  are  represented  in  this 
Convention,  to  wit : 

Alabama,  Arkansas,  Texas,  Louisiana,  Jllssissippi,  Georgia,  South 
Carolina,  Florida,  Second  Congressional  Distiict  of  Tennes.see,  Seventh 
Electoral  District  of  Virginia. 

The  Convention  was  proceeding  to  adjourn,  when  INIr.  Baldwin  of 
New  York,  :in  elderly  gentleman  with  immense  green-jiogules,  begged 
to  be  allowed  to  state  the  true  position  of  Ntw  York  in  that  Convention. 
He  caused  a  very  florid  and  inconsequential  letter  to  be  read.  It  con- 
cluded as  follows  : 

"  Here  as  Commissioners  of  Conference  on  a  mission  for  party  peace, 
and  in  national  love,  we  are  also  here  to  give  the  a.«suraiice  that  should 
the  crisis  arise  to  tcht  us,  you  may  reckon  on  noble  evidence,  in  the 
Empire  State,  of  a  loyalty  which  cannot  be  shaken  in  its  alltgiance  to 
the  Golden  Rule  of  Democracy,  and  can  never  be  corrufited  in  the 
good  faith  which  should  ever  bind  the  true  of  the  North  to  the  true  of 
the  South." 

He  proceeded  to  talk  of  the  great  danger  in  which  the  country  found 
itself,  and  was  doing  t(derably  well  in  the  way  of  a  uninii  speech,  when 
be  was  called  to  order  fur  tulkin";  on  matters  that  the  dele;'ates  had  de- 


159 

clined  to  talk  about.  He  said  he  was  there  at  the  mercy  of  the  Con- 
vention, find  was  told  to  go  on.  He  was  again  talking  of  the  horrors 
of  disunion,  when  Mr.  Barry  of  Mississippi  called  him  to  order  by  say- 
ing he  had  abused  the  courtesy  of  the  Convention;  and  wliile  the  com- 
missioner was  begging  forgiveness  in  the  most  abject  manner,  the 
Convention  adjourned. 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION  AT  BALTIMORE. 


The  Democratic  politicians  assembled  in  great  force  in  Washington 
City  the  week  before  the  Convention  was  called  to  meet  in  Baltimore, 
and  caucused  the  matter  in  the  usual  way. 

On  the  Satuniay  before  the  meeting  of  the  Convention,  the  politicians 
concentrated  in  Baltimore,  where  a  much  greater  crowd  than  that  at 
Charleston  came  together.  It  was  not,  however,  numerically  so  great, 
by  many  thousanris,  as  that  at  Chicago.  The  weight  of  the  outside /,• 
pressure  was  for  Mr.  Douglas.  The  talk  aliout  the  hotels  was  princi-'' 
pally  favorable  to  Mr.  Douglas,  whose  friends  w<re  full  of  confidence 
and  determination.  It  was  evident  that  he  could  not  be  nominated 
without  the  division  of  the  party,  and  placing  two  tit•k^•ts  in  the  field; 
yet  his  friends  gave  no  symptoms  of  flinching  fmrn  taking  any  respon- 
sibility. The  hostile  feeling  between  the  tactions  of  the  Democracy  j/ 
was  even  more  embittered  than  at  the  time  of  the  adjournment  at  ' 
Charleston,  and  the  more  the  points  of  difference  were  caucused,  the 
more  intense  was  the  warfare.  The  debate  in  the  Senate  during  the 
recess — the  speeches  of  Douglas  and  Pugh  on  the  one  hand,  and  Ben-  ' 
jamin  and  Davis  on  the  other — had  served  to  deepen  and  exasperate 
the  controversy,  and  make  it  more  personal  in  its  Dature,  and  therefore 
more  incapable  of  compromise.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Douglas,  encour- 
aged by  the  presence  and  support  of  Soule  of  Louisiana,  Forsyth  of 
Texas,  and  other  strong  Southern  men,  assumed  an  arrogance  of  tone 
that  precluded  the  hope  of  amicable  adjustment  of  ditficul  les.  As  at 
Charleston,  every  person  and  passion  and  piejudice  was  for  or  against 
Mr.  Douglas.  The  opinion  was  almost  univer.-al  that  the  friends  of 
Mr.  Douglas  would  be  able  to  nominate  him,  and  they  were  certainly 
resolved  to  give  him  the  nomination  at  any  hazard  or  sacrifice.  There 
was  no  question,  however,  that  the  New  York  delegation  had  the  fate  of 
the  Convention  in  its  keeping;  and  while  it  was  undor>!00!l  that  the 
strength  of  Mr.  Douglas  in  the  delegation  had  boon  iiicrea.-ed,  during 
the  recess,  by  the  Fi'wkr  defalcation  (the  subs'itufe  for  Mr.  Fowler 
being  reported  to  be  a  Douglas  man),  and  by  the  appearance  of  regular 
delegates  who  were  for  Douglas,  and  whose  alttniates  had  been  against 


160 

him  at  Charleston,  it  was  obvious  that  the  action  of  the  politicians  of 
New  York  could  not  be  counted  upon  in  any  direction  with  confidence. 
Rumors  were  circulated  before  the  meeting  of  the  Convention,  that  a 
negotiation  had  been  carried  on  in  Washington,  by  the  New  Yorkers 
with  the  South,  the  object  of  which  was  to  sell  out  Douglas,  the  South- 
erners and  the  Administration  offering  them  their  wh  tie  f-trength  for 
any  man  New  York  might  name,  provided  that  State  would  slaughter 
Douglas.  On  the  other  hand,  it  appeared  that  Dean  Richmond,  the 
principal  manager  of  the  New  Y'orkers,  had  been  engaged  in  private 
cousultations  with  Mr.  Douglas  and  his  fast  friends,  and  had  pledged 
himself,  as  solemnly  as  a  politician  could  do,  to  stand  by  the  cause  of 
Douglas  to  the  last. 

FIRST    DAY. 

MORNIXG    SESSION. 

The  Convention  assembled  at  ten  o'clock,  in  the  Front  Street  Theatre, 
the  parquet  and  stage  having  been  fitted  up  for  the  delegations,  the 
dress  circle  reserved  for  the  ladies,  and  the  upper  circles  assigned  to 
spectators,  who  were  admitted  by  tickets,  of  which  each  delegation  had 
a  supply  in  proportion  to  its  numbers.  There  was  some  delay  about 
calling  the  Convention  to  order,  owing  to  a  misunderstanding  as  to  the 
hour  of  meeting. 

The  delegates  entitled  to  seats  all  presenting  themselves  at  a  quarter 
past  eleven  o'clock,  the  Convention  was  called  to  order  by  the  President, 
and  opened  with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  John  McCron,  whose  prayer  was 
very  touching  and  beautiful. 

THE    president's    ADDRESS. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  prayer,  the  President  stated  the  condition 
of  business  before  the  Convention  in  a  clear,  sharply-defined  address, 
speaking  so  distinctly  that  every  man  in  the  Convention  heard  every 
word.     He  said  : 

Gentlkmen  of  the  Convention  : — Permit  me,  in  the  first  place,  to 
congratulate  you  upon  your  being  reassembled  here  for  the  discharge  of 
your  important  duties  in  the  interests  of  the  Democratic  party  of  the 
United  States ;  and  I  beg  leave,  in  the  second  place,  to  communicate  to 
the  Convention  the  state  of  the  various  branches  of  its  business,  as  they 
now  come  up  for  consideration  before  you. 

Prior  to  the  adjournment  of  the  Convention,  two  principal  subjects 
of  action  were  before  it.  One,  the  adoption  of  the  doctrinal  re.^'olu- 
tions  constituting  the  platform  of  the  Convention  ;  the  other,  voting 
upon  the  que.'^tion  of  the  nomination  of  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency. 

In  the  course  of  the  discussion  of  the  question  of  a  platform,  the 
Convention  adopted  a  vote,  the  efffct  of  which  was  to  amend  the  report 
of  the  majority  of  the  committee  on  the  Platform,  by  substituting  the 
report  of  the  minority  of  that  committee  ;  and  after  the  adoption  of 
that  motion,  and  the  substitution  of  the  minority  for  the  majority  re- 
port, a  division  was  called  for  upon  the  several  resolutions  constituting 


161 

that  platform,  being  five  in  number.  The  1st,  S<],  4th  and  5th  of  those 
resolutions  were  adopted  by  the  Convention,  and  the  2d  was  rejected. 
After  the  vote  on  the  adoption  of  the  1st,  .3d,  4th  and  5th  of  tho,-e  res- 
olutions, a  motion  was  made  in  each  case  to  reconsider  the  vote,  and  to 
lay  that,  morion  of  reconsideration  upon  the  tahle.  But  niiitlier  of  those 
motions  to  reconsider  or  to  lay  on  the  talde  was  put,  the  putting  of  these 
motions  having  been  prevented  -by  the  intervention  of  questions  of  priv- 
ilege, and  the  ultimate  vote  competent  in  sucli  case,  to  wit,  of  the 
adoption  of  the  report  of  the  majority  as  amended  by  the  report  of  the 
minority,  had  not  been  acted  upon  by  the  Convention.  So  that  at  the 
time  when  the  Convention  adjuurned,  there  remained  pending  before  it 
these  motions,  to  wit :  To  reconsider — the  resolutions  constituting  the 
platform,  and  the  ulterior  question  of  adopting  the  majority  as  amended 
by  the  substitution  of  the  minority  report.  Those  questions,  and  those 
only,  a.-s  the  chair  understood  the  motions  before  the  Convention,  were 
not  acted  upon  prior  to  the  adjournment. 

After  the  disposition  of  the  intervening  questions  of  privilege,  a  mo- 
tion was  made  by  Mr.  McCook  of  Ohio  to  proceed  to  vote  for  candi- 
dates for  President  and  Vice  President.  Upon  that  motion  the  Con- 
vention instructed  the  chiir  (not,  as  has  been  erroneously  supposed,  ia 
the  recess  of  the  Convention,  the  chair  determining  for  the  Convention, 
but  the  Convention  instructing  the  chair)  to  malie  no  declaration  of  a 
nomination  except  upin  a  vote  equivalent  to  two-thirds  in  the  Electoral 
College  of  the  United  States,  and  upon  that  balloting,  no  such  vote 
being  given,  that  order  was,  upon  the  motion  of  the  g'^ntleman  from  Vir- 
ginia (Mr.  Russell),  laid  on  the  table  for  the  purpose  of  enabi  ng  him 
to  propose  a  motion,  which  he  subsequently  did,  that  the  Convention 
adjourn  from  the  city  of  Charleston  to  the  city  of  Baltimore,  and  with 
a  provision  concerning  the  filling  of  vacancies  eml)raced  in  the  same 
re.-olution,  which  resolution  the  Secretary  will  please  to  read. 

The  Secretary  read  the  resolution,  as  follows : 

Rfjiolverl,  That  when  this  Convention  adjourns  to-day,  it  adjourn  to  roapscmblc 
at  B.iltimore,  Md.,  on  Monday,  the  18th  day  of  .rune,  and  that  it  be  respectlully 
reconiraeri(ied  to  the  Democratic  pio^y  of  the  several  Stales  t  >  make  provision 
for  supplying  all  vacancies  in  their  respective  delegations  to  this  Convention 
when  it  .shall  reassemble. 

The  President — The  Convention  will  thus  perceive  that  the  order 
adopted  hy  it  proviiled,  among  other  things,  that  it  is  respectfully  re- 
commended to  the  Democratic  party  of  the  several  States  to  make  pro- 
vision for  supplying  all  vacancies  in  their  respective  delegations  to  this 
Convention,  when  it  shall  reassemble.  What  is  the  construction  of  that 
resolution  V — what  is  the  scope  of  its  application  V — is  a  question  nor  for 
the  chair  to  determine  or  to  suggest  to  the  Convention,  but  for  the  Con- 
vention itself  to  determine. 

However  that  may  be,  in  the  preparatory  arrangement  for  the  present 
assembling  of  this  Convention,  there  were  addrc!-sed  to  the  ch;iir  the 
credentials  of  members  elected,  or  purporting  to  he  elected,  aftinned 
and  confirmed  by  the  original  Conventions,  and  accredited  to  this  Con- 
vention. In  three  of  those  cases,  or  perhaps  four,  the  credentials  were 
authentic  and  complete,  presenting  no  question  of  controverting  dele- 
11 


162 

gates.  In  four  othcrR,  to  wit,  the  States  of  Georg:ia,  Alabama,  Lou- 
isiana and  Delaware,  there  were  contesting  applications.  Upon  those 
applications  the  cliair  was  called  to  determine  whether  it  possessed  any 
power  to  determine  prima  facie  membership  of  this  Convention.  That 
question  was  presented  in  its  most  ab.soluto  and  complete  form  in  the 
case  of  Mississippi,  where  there  was  no  contest  either  through  irregu- 
larity of  form  or  of  competing  delegations,  and  so  also  in  the  ca.ses  of 
Florida,  Texas  and  Arkansas.  In  those  four  States,  there  being  an 
apparent  authenticity  of  commission,  the  chair  was  called  upon  to  deter- 
mine the  naked  abstract  que.siion  whether  he  had  power,  peremptorily  and 
preliminary,  to  determine  tlie  prima  facie  membership  of  alleged  niem- 
bers  of  this  Convention.  Tlie  chair  would  gladly  have  satisfied  himself 
that  he  had  this  power,  but  upon  examining  the  source  of  his  pnwer,  to 
wit,  the  rules  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  he  was  unable  to  dis- 
cern that  he  had  any  authority,  even  prima  facie,  to  scrutinize  and 
canvass  credentials,  allhougli  they  were  such  as,  upon  their  face,  were 
free  from  contest  or  controversy  either  of  form  or  of  sub.stance,  and 
therefore  he  deemed  it  his  duty  to  reserve  the  determination  of  that 
question  to  be  submitted  to  the  Convention.  And  in  due  time  the 
chair  will  present  that  question  as  one  of  privilege  to  this  body. 

And  now,  gentlemen,  having  thus  presented  to  you  the  exact  state  of 
the  questions  pending  or  involved  in  the  action  of  the  Convention  when 
it  adjourned,  the  chair  begs  leave  only  to  add  a  single  observation  of  a 
more  general  nature.  We  assemble  here  now  at  a  time  when  the  ene- 
mies of'  the  Democratic  party — when,  let  mo  say,  the  enemies  of  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  are  in  the  field  [applause]  with  their 
Selected  leaders,  with  their  banners  displayed,  advancing  to  the  combat 
with  the  constitutional  interests  and  party  of  the  United  States ;  and 
upon  you,  gentlemen,  upon  your  action,  upon  your  spirit  of  harmony, 
upon  your  devotion  to  the  Constitution,  upon  your  solicitude  to  main- 
tain the  interests,  the  honor  and  the  integrity  of  the  Democratic  party 
as  the  guardians  of  the  Constitution — upon  you,  gentlemen,  it  depends 
whether  the  issue  of  that  combat  is  to  be  victory  or  defeat  for  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States.      [Renewed  applause.] 

It  does  not  become  the  chair  to  discuss  any  of  the  personal  or  politi- 
cal demands  of  that  question.  It  may  be  permitted,  however,  to  ex- 
hort you  in  the  spirit  of  our  community,  of  party  interests,  in  the  faith 
of  our  common  respect  for  the  Constituti  )n,  in  the  sense  of  our  common 
devotion  to  the  interests  and  honor  of  our  couutry ;  I  .say  to  exhort  you 
to  feel  that  we  come  here  this  day  not  to  determine  any  mere  technical 
questions  of  form,  not  merely  to  gain  personal  or  party  triumphs,  but 
we  come  here  in  the  exercise  of  a  solemn  duty,  in  a  crisis  of  the  condi- 
tion of  the  affairs  of  our  couutry  such  as  has  never  yet  befallen  the 
United  States.  Shall  we  nut  all  enter  upon  this  duty  in  the  solemn 
and  profound  conviction  of  the  responsibilities  thus  devolved  upon  us, 
of  our  high  duty  to  our  country,  to  ourselves,  and  to  the  States  of  this 
Union  V  [Applause.]  Gentlemen,  the  Convention  is  now  in  order  for 
the  transaction  of  business. 

This  is  an  admirable  statement  of  the  condition  of  the  business  be- 
fore the  question. 


163 

Mr.  Howard  of  Tennessee  introduced  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  President  of  this  Convcntiou  direct  the  Sergeant-at-Arms 
to  issue  tickets  of  admission  to  the  delegates  of  the  Convention  as  originally 
constituted  and  organized  at  Charleston. 

Mr.  Cavanagh  moved  to  lay  the  resolution  on  the  table,  and  called 
the  vote  hy  States. 

Mr.  Eussell  of  Virginia  wished  to  inquire  of  the  ehair  what  he  had 
done  in  the  way  of  determining  the  rights  of  delegations  to  seat.s. 

The  President — The  chair  will  then  state,  in  response  to  the  inquiry 
of  the  geotleman  from  Virginia  (Mr.  Russell),  that  the  chair  did  not 
undertake  to  judge  any  thing,  neither  to  decide  that  there  were  or  were 
not  vacancies.  All  the  chair  undertook  to  say,  w;is,  that  the  gentlemen 
borne  upon  its- roll  as  members  of  this  Convention  at  the  time  of  its  ad- 
journment at  Charleston,  were  entitled  to  recognition  of  membership 
precisely  to-day  as  they  would  had  the  Convention  adjourned  yesterday. 
[Applause.]  To  have  gone  beyond  this  point  would  have  been  to  enter 
into  the  canvass  of  conflicting  credentials  upon  new  elections  of  mem- 
bers. The  chair  was  thoroughly  convinced  that  he  had  no  power  to 
enter  into  that  inquiry  of  conflicting  credentials  of  persons  alleging  to 
have  been  elected  to  this  Convention  by  S!:ite  Conventions  held  since 
the  adjournment  of  this  Convention  i;t  Chorleston.  The  chair  will  sug- 
gest to  the  gentleman  from  Virginia  that  the  question  did  not  present 
itself  in  the  furni  of  simplicity  and  unity  in  which  bis  inquiry  would 
suppose,  inasmuch  as  several  States  to  which  he  refers,  did  assume  that 
the  resolution  in  the  adjournment  created  vacancies  to  be  filled  by  new 
action  of  the  respective  States ;  and  if  the  chair  had  entered  into  any 
inquiry  of  the  new-credentials,  as,  for  instance,  to  discriminate  upon  the 
question  whether  these  credentials  came  from  a  new  State  Convention 
called  anew,  and  that  Convention  vacating  anterior  commissions  ;  or 
whether  they  emanate  from  a  Convention  called  anew  and  .'^imply  con- 
firming anterior  commissions  ; — in  either  case,  if  the  chair  had  gone  into 
the  question,  it  would  have  been  necessary  for  him  to  hold  hearings  and 
investigations  of  credentials  and  of  facts  in  regard  to  eight  States  of  the 
Union,  as  to  which  he  had  no  more  power  under  the  rules  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  than  any  other  member  of  the  Convention. 

Whilst  tlie  chair  is  dispo.-ed  to  exert  the  whole  power,  in  any  contin- 
gency, of  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives — liavin<i'  en- 
tered upon  the  di.><charge  of  this  most  unwelcome  and  responsible  duty 
with  a  determination  to  act  without  favor  and  also  without  fear — yet  the 
chair  knows  that  it  is  impossilde  that  he  shall  maintain  order  in  this 
Convention,  that  the  deliberations  of  this  Convention  shall  go  on  in  any 
system  of  regularity,  unless  the  chair  takes  care  to  walk  carefully  and 
rigorously  in  the  simple  line  of  routine  and  of  technical  authority. 
[Applause.]  Within  the  line  of  technical  authority,  and  upon  the  rules 
of  the  Huu>-e  of  Representatives,  as  constituting  the  guide  of  the  chair, 
the  chair  will  take  leave  to  decide  all  questions  as  they  may  arise,  in  or 
out  of  the  Convention.  Rut  the  chair  does  not  propose  to  assume  any 
judicial  or  quasi-judicial  authority  in  regard  to  the  canvass  of  creden- 
tials and  the  autlienticity  of  membership  ;  an  authority  manifestly  not 
conferred  upon  the  presiding  ofHcer,  according  to  precedent  and  the  uni- 


164 

form  usage  of  the  two  houses  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
never  preliminarily  detcrraineJ  by  the  prchiling  officer  of  either  house 
of  Congress.  In  i.S'«uing  tickets  to  the  gentlemen  t.orne  on  the  roll  of 
the  Convention,  alrL-ady  sufficiently  authenticuteii  by  the  proceedings  of 
the  Convention  itself,  at  tlie  time  of  adjuurnnicnt,  the  chair  did  that  at 
least  which  was  in  the  sphere  of  the  duties  of  the  chair  ;  and  in  doing 
that  he  in  no  degree  involved  or  prejudiced  the  question  of  what  was 
the  right  of  any  gentleman — that  depending  upon  the  action  of  this 
Convention.  The  chair,  as  he  before  iniitnated,  will  now  make  this, 
the  first  question,  a  question  of  privilege,  that  the  Convention  may  in- 
struct the  chair  regarding  his  duty  concerning  the  delegations  of  the 
other  States. 

Mr.  Cliurch  of  New  York  offered  the  following  resolution,  as  an 
amendment  to  that  of  Mr.  Howard — Mr.  Cavanagh,  who  had  moved  to 
table  Howard's  resolution,  yielding  for  that  purpose  : 

Rtfohcil,  That  the  crodnntials  of  all  persons  claiiiing  seat?  in  this  Convention 
made  vacant  by  the  sece.s.«ioa  of  dolffrates  at  Charleston,  he  refen\d  to  the  com- 
mittee on  Credentials,  and  said  committee  is  herehy  instructed,  as  soon  as  prac- 
ticable, to  examine  the  same  and  report  the  names  of  persons  entitled  to  such 
seal-s.  with  the  district — understanding,  however,  that  every  person  acci'pting  a 
Beat  in  tliis  Convention  is  bound  in  honor  and  good  faith  to  abide  by  the  action 
of  this  Convention,  and  support  its  nominations. 

The  resolution  was  received  with  shouts  of  tumultuous  applause, 
originating  with  members  of  the  CoDventioD,  and  taken  up  and  repeated 
by  the  spectators  in  the  galleries. 

It  was  erroneou.4y  understood  at  this  time,  that  the  resolution  of  Mr. 
Church,  was  the  proposition  of  a  majority  of  the  New  York  delegation, 
and  the  sensation  was  very  great.  The  applause  in  the  galleries  caused 
the  chair  to  become  indignant,  and  he  fiercely  stated  his  purpose  of 
preserving  order  and  prevent  the  galleries  from  participating  by  indica- 
tions of  approbation  or  disapprobation  in  the  proceedings. 

An  unimportant  debate  on  points  of  order  followed.  Mr.  Church 
called  the  previous  question  on  his  resolution.  During  the  conversa- 
tional discussion : 

Mr.  Ru.-sell  of  Virginia — I  ask  that  this  Convention  will  allow  me  to 
make  a  friendly,  candid  and  sincere  appeal  to  the  gentleman  who  made 
the  call  for  the  previous  question  (Mr.  Church  of  New  York)  to  with- 
draw his  call. 

The  President — The  chair  has  no  authority  over  that  question. 

Mr.  Russell — I  ask  the  chair  to  appeal  to  tne  gentleman  to  allow  fair 
play  ill  this  Convention. 

Mr.  Stuart  of  Michigan — I  insist  that  the  chair  preserve  order. 

The  President — The  gentleman  from  Virginia  (^Mr.  liu.ssell)  is  not 
in  order. 

Mr.  llussell — If  we  are  to  be  constrained  to  silence,  I  beg  gentle- 
men to  consider  the  silence  of  Virginia  as  somewhat  ominous.  [Ap- 
plause and  hisses.] 

The  question  was  stated  to  be  upon  seconding  the  demand  for  the 
previous  question.      Being  taken  vica  voce, 

The  President  stated  that  the  noes  appeared  to  have  it. 


165 

Mr.  Richardson  of  Illinois  doubted  the  announcement,  and  asked 
that  the  vote  be  taken  by  States,  which  was  ordered. 

Mr.  Brodhead  of  Pennsylvania  stated  that  the  gentleman  from  New 
York  (Mr.  Church)  was  willing  to  withdraw  his  call  for  the  previous 
question. 

Mr.  Montgomery  of  Pennsylvania — The  vote  having  been  ordered 
to  be  taken  by  States,  it  is  not  now  in  order  to  withdraw  the  call  for 
the  previous  question. 

A  motion  was  made  to  adjourn  until  four  o'clock.  A  call  for  the 
vote  by  States  was  made.  While  this  was  being  taken,  a  controversy 
occurred  in  the  Minnesota  delegation,  a  part  of  which  has  become  hos- 
tile to  Douglas,  a  fact  which  irritates  his  friends  beyond  measure.  Af- 
ter consuming  nearly  an  hour's  time  of  the  Convention,  the  delegation 
temporarily  settled  the  d  fference. 

The  vote  on  adjournment  was: 

Ykas — Maine  li,  New  Hampshire  5,  Connecticut  1,  New  Jersey  5, 
Pennsylvania  G,  Delaware  3,  Maryland  6,  Virginia  15,  North  Caroli- 
na 10,  Missouri  6|,  Tennessee  82,  Kentucky  3,  Minnesota  1^,  Cali- 
fornia 4,  Oregon  3 — 73|-. 

Nays — Maine  0^,  New  Hampshire  4i,  Vermont  5,  Massachusetts  13, 
Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  5,  New  York  35,  New  Jersey  2,  Penn- 
sylvania 21,  IMaryland  2,  Arkansas  1,  Missouri  2|,  Tennessee  3|-, 
Kentucky  9,  Ohio  23,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11,  Michigan  6,  Wisconsin 
5,  Iowa  4,  Minnesota  2k — 1785. 

Some  of  Douglas's  friends  here  absurdly  claimed  the  nays  to  indicate 
positively  their  strength. 

The  Convention  now  refused,  objection  being  made,  to  hear  a  com- 
munication from  the  State  of  Mississippi. 

The  question  was  then  taken  on  seconding  the  demand  for  the  previ- 
ous question,  upon  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Church.  It  was  not  agreed 
to.     Yeas  107i,  nays  140^,  as  follows: 

Yeas — Maine  6,  New  Hampshire  5,  Vermont  45,  Massachusetts  45, 
Connecticut  3d,  New  Jersey  2|,  Penn.sylvania  9^,  Maryland  2,  Mis- 
souri 2|,  Tennessee  3,  Kentucky  1|,  Ohio  23,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11, 
Michigan  6,  Wisconsin  5,  Iowa  4,  Minnesota  2| — lUT^. 

Nays — Maine  2,  Vermont  ^,  Massachusetts  4^,  Rhode  Island  4, 
Conn<  cticut  2 — one  absent.  New  York  35,  New  Jersey  4^.  Pennsylva- 
nia KU,  Delaware  2,  Maryland  6,  Virginia  15,  North  Carolina  10, 
Arkansas  1,  Missouri  65,  Tennessee  8,  Kentucky  10^,  Minnesota  I5, 
California  4,  Oregon  3— 140^ 

On  calling  the  roll,  the  New  York  delegation  asked  permi.ssion  to  re- 
tire for  consultation,  and  during  the  interim  there  was  an  entire  cessa- 
tion of  business.  The  power  of  the  State  of  New  York  was  made 
quite  apparent  in  this  vote,  and  it  also  appeared  that  the  course  she 
would  take  was  among  the  uncertainties.  Some  considered  the  vote  to 
indicate  the  determination  of  New  York  not  to  sustain  Douglas.  There 
were  evidences,  however,  that  it  was  a  piece  of  New  York  tactics  not  at 
all  incompatible  with  friendliness  toward  Douglas.  New  York  judged 
it  unwise  to  stifle  debate — that  was  all. 


166 


The  question  was  then  stated  to  be  upon  the  amendment  to  the 
amondmfnt. 

Mr.  (lilmor  of  Pennsylvania  offered  the  following  amendment  to  Mr. 
Church's  resolution : 

Re^iibcd.  Thiit  the  Prisidcnt  of  the  Convention  be  directetl  to  issue  tickft!=  of 
a'lmission  tn  scat?  ii!  tlie  Convention  to  thi-  d'lciati'SJ  from  the  .'^lafes  of  Tixap. 
Florida.  Mississippi  and  Arkansas,  in  which  States  there  are  no  contesting  dele- 
gations. 

A  motion  to  adjourn  to  ten  o'clock,  Tuesdny,  was  now  ne(»afivcd  hy 
a  vote  of  3-5  to  21G.  A  motion  to  take  a  recess  until  five  o'clock  in 
the  evening,  was  carried  viva  voce. 

EVENING   SESSION. 

The  chair  gave  notice  of  the  possession  of  documents  regarding  con- 
tested seats. 

Mr.  Gilmor  has  his  amendment  read  again,  having  slightly  modi- 
fied it : 

Resdeed.  That  the  President  of  the  Convention  be  authorized  to  i.spiie  tickets 
of  ailiiiis.<ion  to  seats  in  this  Convention  to  the  delofrates  from  the  States  of 
Arkansas.  Texas,  Florida  and  Mississippi,  in  which  States  there  are  no  contest- 
incf  drlepations.  and  that  in  those  States,  to  wit.  Delaware.  Gi-orpia.  Alabama 
and  Louisiana,  where  there  are  C0Qte.>iting  delegations,  a  committee  on  Creden- 
tials tihall  be  appointed,  by  the  several  delegations,  to  report  upon  said  Slates. 

Mr.  Clark  of  Missouri  obtained,  after  encountering  some  objections, 
the  reading  for  information  of  a  proposition  which  he  considered  of  im- 
mense altitude. 

It  was:  S'rike  out  the  proviso  in  the  amendment  of  Mr.  Church  of 
New  York,  and  add  the  following: 

SeJidved,  That  the  citizens  of  the  several  States  of  the  Union  have  an  equal  right 
to  settle  and  remain  in  the  Territories  of  the  United  States,  and  to  hold  therein, 
unmoligted  by  any  legislation  whatever,  their  slaves  and  other  ])roperty  ;  and 
that  this  Convention  recognizes  the  opinion  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States  in  the  Dred  Scott  ca.se  as  a  true  exposition  of  the  Constitution  in  regard 
to  the  rights  of  the  citizens  of  the  several  Slates  and  Territories  of  the  United 
States  upon  all  sabject.s  concerning  which  it  treats  ;  and  that  the  umnbers  of 
this  Convention  pledge  themselves,  and  re(|uire  all  others  who  may  lie  author- 
ized as  delegates,  to  make  the  sam"  pledge,  to  support  the  DtmiKratic  candi- 
dates, tairly  and  in  good  faith,  nominated  by  this  Convention  according  to  the 
usages  of  the  National  Democratic  paity. 

The  debate  now  opened  upon  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Gilmor,  Mr. 
Randall  of  Pennsylvania  obtaining;  the  floor.  Mr.  R  miall  however  ad- 
dressed hiinself  to  the  amendment  of  Mr.  Church.      lie  s;iid  : 

The  amendment  of  the  gentleman  from  New  York  impo.-es  a  condi- 
tion upon  the  returning  members  of  the  several  States  that  seceded  at 
Cbarlesiton.  I  deny  the  power  of  this  C<mvention  to  impose  any  such 
condition.  The  rit^ht  of  their  constituents  is  unqu:dified,  and  beyond 
the  power  of  this  Convention,  to  send  their  representatives  to  this  body 
without  condition  and  without  limitation.  [Applause  and  his.ses  ]  It 
is  an  intereference  with  the  right  of  the  constituents  of  seven  seceding 


167 

States  to  impose  any  qualification  upon  the  representatives  of  this  body. 
I  deny  its  equity  or  its  justice. 

It  is  said  in  the  amendment  that  it  is  "  understood."  Understood  ! 
an  apulo/ry  for  the  hroad  declaration  of  a  naked  invasion  of  the  riu;hts 
of  freemen.  Not  that  the  members  of  this  body  thus  admitted  have 
denied  the  right,  but  it  is  understood  that  they  are  pledged  to  do  what 
other  members  are  not  pledged  to  do — to  conform  to  the  decision  of  the 
majority.  Mr.  President  and  gentlemen,  I  invoke  you  to  look  at  the 
injustice  of  every  such  qualification — a  qualification  which  no  honorable 
man,  except  under  very  peculiar  circumstances,  could  ever  submit  to  ; 
a  qualification  which  it  is  known  that  the  representatives  of  these  seven 
seceding  States  will  never  submit  to.  [Applause  and  hisses.]  But, 
Mr.  President  and  brethren  of  the  great  Democratic  family,  who  are 
now  contending  for  the  success  of  the  Democratic  cause,  I  ask  you  to 
halt,  not  simply  upon  the  ground  of  right  and  justice,  but  of  policy. 
Not  a  member  of  this  body  but  knows  that  the  representatives  of  those 
States  will  not  give  any  such  pledge  [applause  and  hisses]  ;  that  it  is 
tantamount  to  a  declaration  of  expulsion  from  the  body.  [Applause 
and  hisses.] 

Mr.  Hoag  of  Virginia  : 

I  rise  to  a  question  of  privilege.  I  desire  to  ascertain,  once  for  all, 
whether,  when  a  gentleman  like  that  from  Penn.«ylvania  is  addressing 
the  Convention,  he  is  to  be  exposed  to  the  cowardly  insult  of  hisses 
from  the  gsillery?  [Applause,  and  calls  to  order  by  the  chair.]  I  ask 
if  citizens  of  Virginia  are  to  endure  the  ignominy  and  insult  of  hearing 
honorable  gentlemen  hissed  from  the  galleries  for  uttering  sentiments  in 
accordance  with  our  own  ?  If  there  is  to  be  an  outside  pressure 
brought  to  bear  upon  this  body,  I,  for  one,  will  deem  my  personal 
honor  sacrificed  if  1  remain  here  without  being  protected  against  the 
outrage  and  insult  of  these  hisses.     [Applause.] 

The  chair  was  properly  indignant  at  the  outsiders.  Mr.  Randall 
made  the  usual  appeals  for  harmony  (which  meant  the  sacrifice  of 
Douglas)  and  the  preservation  of  the  unity  of  the  party  and  the  integrity 
of  the  Union. 

Mr.  Richardson  of  Illinois  replied.  He  was  opposed  to  the  adop- 
tion of  the  amendment  of  Mr.  Gilmor.     He  said  : 

It  declares  that  the  President  of  the  Convention  shall  issue  his  tick- 
ets to  the  delegates  from  Florida,  Mississippi,  Texas  and  Arkansas. 
Talking,  the  other  day,  in  the  city  of  Washington,  with  a  delegate 
from  the  State  of  Florida,  who  was  at  Richmond,  I  learned  from  him  the 
fact  that  they  were  not  accredited  to  this  Convention.  The  gentleman 
from  Pennsylvania  proposes  by  his  amendment  to  elect  delegates  from 
the  State  of  Florida,  that  the  people  have  not  accredited.  To  that  I 
am  opposed.  We  are  not  so  hard  driven  yet  as  to  be  compelled  to 
elect  delegates  from  States  that  do  not  choose  to  send  any  here.  It  is 
true,  the  delegate  with  whom  I  talked,  said  to  me  that  if  this  Conven- 
tion invited  them — I  believe  his  words  were,  "extended  the  olive 
branch  "  to  them — they  would  come  here.  I  want  no  delegates  here 
who  have  not  been  accredited  here.  I  do  not  propose  to  sit  side  by 
side  with  delegates  who  do  not  represent  the  people ;  who  are  not 
bound  by  any  thing,  when  I  am  to  be  bound  by  every  thing.     [Applause.] 


168 

T  know,  po  far  as  I  have  henrd,  that  there  is  no  contest  aLout  the 
seats  frniii  Mis>issi|ipi.  J3y  plueing  tlum  here,  in  connection  with  the 
others,  it  is  impossible  that  the  sense  of  this  Convention  can  lie  fully 
expressed.  1  shall  vote  against  the  anicndnient,  because  it  hrings  del- 
egates in  here  who  hav'e  not  been  sent  here ;  because  it  decides  a  con- 
troversy in  another  State  without  a  hearing;  because  I  have  not  heard 
whether  in  the  State  of  Missi^sippi  they  have  been  sent  here  or  not.  I 
think  that  in  all  these  cases  the  usages  of  the  Democratic  party  require 
that  they  should  be  investigated  by  a  committee  before  any  of  them  are 
admitted  upon  this  floor.     [Applause  ] 

Mr.  Kiehardson's  speech  received  the  most  marked  attention,  for  the 
reason,  he  was  known  to  be  peculiarly  the  spokesman  of  Douglas.  He 
was  always  deeply  in  earnest,  and  his  tone  was  that  of  the  utmost  de- 
gree of  resolution. 

Mr.  Cochrane  of  New  York  made  a  speech,  quite  impressive  in  voice 
and  manner,  but  not  containing  much  matter.  lie  was  not  in  favor  of 
either  proposition  before  the  house  in  its  integrity. 

Mr.  Russell  of  Virginia  made  a  speech  in  whicii  he  said  that  Virginia 
intended  to  cling  to  the  Democracy  of  the  South,  and  see  that  they  had 
fair  play  at  least.  He  hud  seen  that  day  .she  would  have  fair  play. 
He  urgently  appealed  for  the  admission  of  Southern  delegates,  regard- 
ing whose  seat  there  was  no  contest.  As  to  the  merits  of  the  proposed 
test,  he  said :  I  suppose  we  all  come  here  to  be  bound  by  the  obliga- 
tions of  gentlemen.  If  we  are  not  gentlemen — if  we  are  such  knaves 
that  we  cannot  trust  one  another — we  had  better  scatter  at  once,  and 
cease  to  make  any  eflfort  to  bind  each  other.      [Applause. 

Montgomery  of  Pennsylvania  now  made  his  sensation  speef'h. 

Mr.  Montgomery  of  Pa. — I  regret  that  the  previous  question  was 
not  sustained  this  morning.  I  regret  that  the  time  of  this  Convention 
has  been  taken  up  in  this  discussion  ;  but  as  it  has  progresse<l  thus  far, 
it  is  due  to  those  who  are  opposed  to  the  resolution  offered  by  my  col- 
league, that  they  should  explain  their  views  upon  it.  3Iy  colleague 
(Mr.  Randall)  has  said  that  we  are  under  no  pledges.  I  differ  with 
him.  There  is  not  a  Democrat  upon  this  floor  who  is  not  under  the  most 
solemn  pledges  of  his  honor  as  a  man,  and  of  his  integrity  as  a  Demo- 
crat, to  abide  by  the  nominations  that  we  may  make.  [Applause. 3 
And  I  say  to  my  colleague  that  if  he  thinks  that  he  is  not  bound  by 
those  honorable  obligations,  the  sooner  he  retires  from  the  Convention, 
the  sooner  he  will  relieve  the  Democracy  from  the  imputation  which  he 
has  sought  to  cast  upon  it.  Any  man  who  cmes  into  the  Convention 
of  a  party  is  bound  by  its  decisions.  You  turn  the  party  back  into 
chaos  if  you  do  not  acknowledge  that  obligation.      [Loud  applause] 

Now  what  is  it  we  jtropose  that  these  delegates  shall  do?  It  is  simply 
that  they  shall  give  that  honorable  pledge,  and  declare,  in  taking  their 
seats,  that  they  will  not  countenance  a  Seeeders'  Convention  in  another 
place.      [Enthusiastic  applause,  in  which  the  galleries  participated.] 

The  President — The  gentlemen  will  suspend.  The  proceedings  of 
the  Convention  have  again  been  interrupted  by  loud  clapping  and  noises 
from  the  gallery. 

Many  Voices — On  the  floor. 


169 


A  Delegate — And  in  the  gallery. 

The  FresiJent — And  in  the  gallery  also,  distinctly  seen  and  heard 
by  me. 

Mr.  Johnson  of  Maryland — As  a  delegate  from  Maryland,  I  ask 
that  representatives  of  this  State  may  be  cleared  from  the  imputation 
cast  upon  them  by  the  disorder  in  the  gallery.  Ttiose  joining  in  the 
disonler  there  are  not  the  people  of  Baltimore.  I  ask  of  the  chair  that 
the  galleries  may  be  cleared.  [Cries  from  all  parts  of  the  house — 
"No,"  "No,"  "No" — and  hisses. 

Mr.  Montgomery — We  have  hvard  this  before  at  Charleston.  I  have 
had  to  sit  silent  when  an  honorable  delegate  from  the  far  South  was 
hissed  by  a  whole  gallery  for  casting  his  vote  as  he  had  the  right  to  do 
as  the  representative  of  a  sovereign  State,  and  the  indignation  and  mani- 
festation of  feeling  as  exhibited  here  to-day  nowhere  exhibited  it&elf 
then.  [Applause.]  I  do  not  justify  the  applause,  but  I  am  here  in 
defense  of  my  rights,  as  that  man  was  there  in  defen.se  of  his.  Let  us 
have  even-handed  justice. 

The  President — The  chair  begs  leave  to  remind  the  gentleman  from 
Pennsylvania  that  on  that  occasion  the  hissing  was  about  to  produce  a 
clearing  of  the  gallery,  and  it  was  at  the  special  request  of  Mr.  Perry 
of  South  Carolina  that  the  Convention  desisted  from  that  act. 

Mr.  Wright  of  Pennsylvania — We  were  hissed  time  and  again  at 
Charleston. 

[Tiie  manner  of  Mr.  Montgomery  in  referring  to  the  hissing  of  Mr. 
Perry  from  the  Convention  at  Charleston,  was  perfectly  ferocious.  A 
grizzly  bear  could  not  have  presented  a  more  formidable  appearance,  or 
growled  with  more  ravenous  rage.] 

We  are  situated,  peculiarly,  Mr.  President.  We  are  situated  to-day 
as  no  Democratic  Convention  has  never  been  in  before,  in  the  history  of 
the  party.  From  the  day  that  the  first  Democratic  Convention  assem- 
bled, up  to  this  hour,  we  never  have  had  a  scene  presented  to  us  like 
this.  For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  Democratic  party,  a  num- 
ber of  delegations  of  sovereign  States  relinquished  and  resigned,  by  a 
solemn  instrument  in  writing,  their  places  as  delegates  upon  the  floor  of 
the  Convention.  They  went  out  with  a  protest,  not  against  a  candidate, 
but  against  the  principles  of  a  party,  declaring  that  they  were  not  their 
principles — that  they  did  not  hold  them,  and  they  would  not  indorse 
and  support  ihem.  There,  sir,  was  the  divorce  of  which  my  colleague 
has  spoken.  They  declared  it.  It  was  not  our  act,  but  theirs.  They 
put  themselves  from  us,  and  not  we  from  them.  And  not  only  that, 
but  they  called  a  hostile  Convention,  in  the  city  of  Charleston,  and  sat 
side  by  side  with  us,  deliberating  upon  a  nomination  of  candidates  and 
the  adoption  of  a  platform.  Principles  hostile  to  ours  were  asserted, 
and  a  nomination  hostile  to  ours  was  threatened.  Our  Convention  was 
compelled,  under  the  circumstances,  in  order  to  have  tho.se  sovereign 
States  represented,  to  adjourn.  We  did  adjourn.  What  became  of  the 
gentlemen  who  seceded '!  They  adjourned  to  meet  at  Richmond  at  an- 
other time.  They  did  meet  at  Richmond.  It  is  said  by  honorable 
gentlemen  that  they  seek  to  come  back  and  sit  upon  this  floor  with  us. 
Now  what  did  they  do  at  Kichmond  ?     They  adjourned  that  Convention, 


170 

and  to-day  they  hold  it  in  terrorem  over  us  if  we  do  not  come  to  their 
terms.     [Applauee.] 

We  adjourned  fur  what?  For  the  purpose  of  enabling  those  States 
in  the  Scmth,  who^e  delegates  had  seceded,  to  fill  up  the  places  of  those 
wlio  had  left  us.  Now,  1  appeal  to  the  magnanimity,  to  tlje  Dtmocracy, 
to  the  manhood  of  any  delegate  here,  if  such  was  not  your  declaration 
sent  greeting  to  all  those  States?  We  told  them — "  Fill  up  your  dele- 
gations and  send  us  back  new  men."  They  have  filled  them  up,  and 
they  have  sent  delegates  who  claim  to  represent  the  people  of  those 
States.     *     *     * 

But  the  gentleman  from  Virginia  tells  us  that  from  the  State  of 
Florida  the  delegates  have  come  to  inform  us  that  they  have  their  original 
authority  which  constituted  them  delegates  to  the  National  Convention 
at  Charleston.  But  be  forgets  that  these  fame  delegates,  by  a  paper 
which  remains  on  file  in  this  Convention,  resigned  their  places  and  aban- 
doned them.  They  declared  that  they  were  no  longer  delegates  to  tbis 
Convention,  and  they  filed  a  protest  against  its  proceedings.  And  not 
only  that,  tbey  were  now  in  a  hostile  organization  to  ours.  Now,  I  am 
in  favor,  under  these  circumstances,  and  tlieir  jteculiar  situation  (one 
which  has  never  existed  before),  of  requiring  that  those  delegates  shall 
declare,  when  they  are  admitted  to  seats  upon  this  floor,  that  they  are 
honorably  bound  by  our  action,  and  by  the  nominations  that  we  may 
make.  We  owe  that  to  ourselves,  to  the  party,  to  the  country,  and  to 
the  Union,  which  they  tell  us  is  to  be  preserved  by  the  action  of  those 
very  delegates.  Do  we  require  it  of  one  side  ?  Not  at  all — but  of  all 
sides.  My  colleague  (Mr.  Randall)  says  he  is  in  favor  of  perpetuating 
our  glorious  Union.  So  am  I.  God  knows  I  love  the  Star  Spangled 
Banner  of  my  country  as  dearly  as  he  can,  and  it  is  because  I  love  the 
country  and  the  Union  that  I  am  determined  that  any  n)an  who  arrajs 
himself  in  hostility  to  it  shall  not,  by  my  consent,  take  a  seat  in  this 
Convention.  [Applause.]  I  am  opposed  to  di.>-UTiion,  and  I  am  op- 
posed to  the  advocates  of  it.  [Applause.]  And  I  am  oppo>;ed  to  se- 
cession, either  from  this  Union  or  from  the  Democratic  Convention. 
[Applause.]  But  when  men  take  this  responsibility  upon  themselves — 
when  they  file  among  the  records  of  this  Convention  their  determination 
to  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  its  action — when  they  make  speeches 
in  our  hearing,  declaring  that  the  principles  of  the  party  are  not  their 
principles,  and  that  they  will  not  be  bound  to  support  them — then  I  say 
it  is  high  time,  if  they  ask  to  come  back,  that  they  shall  declare  that 
they  have  changed  their  minds.  [Applause.]  What  is  the  history  of 
the  pa?t?  Is  this  a  novel  feature  in  the  proceedings  of  National  Con- 
ventions? No,  sir — it  is  a  part  of  the  history  of  our  party  that  in  all 
such  contests  we  have  always  required  such  pledges.  The  gentleman 
from  New  York  (Mr.  Cochrane)  felt  the  pressure  of  this  same  practice 
when  he  referred  to  his  own  delegation.  Only  at  your  last  National 
Convention  in  Cincinnati,  a  contest  existed  between  the  two  wings  of 
the  party  in  the  State  of  New  York.  And  it  was  required  of  the  dele- 
gates from  that  State,  before  they  had  an  examination  upon  their  cre- 
dentials, that  they  should  pledge  themselves  to  abide  by  tlie  action  of 
the  Convention  and   support  the  nominees   of  the  Convention.     [Ap- 


171 

plause.]  Are  you  going  to  insult  the  empire  State  of  New  York?  Are 
you  willing  to  make  an  exception  against  New  York  in  favor  of  the 
South'/  [Cries  of  "  No  !  "  "  no  !  "]  Even-handed  justice  is  all  I  am 
asking  for.  I  ask  that  we  shall  adhere  to  the  precedents  of  the  past. 
[Applause.] 

This  was  Lhe  speech  of  the  day.  It  was  considerably  more  than  red 
hot,  and  by  the  time  he  had  concluded,  the  political  atmosphere  was  at 
the  temperature  it  reached  in  Charleston  just  before  the  explosion. 
The  speecb  was  that  of  a  bold  man  with  a  rude  sort  of  ability,  and  zeal 
developed  out  of  proportion  to  his  discretion.  Still  it  raised  every  body's 
estimate  of  "  Bill  Montgomery." 

Mr.  Ewing  of  Tennessee — I  ask  you,  gentlemen  of  this  Democratic 
Convention  from  all  portions  of  this  country,  what  do  you  mean  ?  Have 
you  no  enemy  in  front?  Have  you  any  States  to  spare?  Have  you 
any  States  to  give  up?  If  you  have,  I  have  not  yet  learned  it  from 
the  history  of  the  past,  or  from  the  position  of  parties  and  of  men  at 
the  present  moment.  We  are  pursued  in  front  by  a  remorseless  enemy, 
advancing  step  by  step,  squadron  by  squadron,  until  the  field  is  almost 
irretrievably  lost.  And  yet  from  all  quarters  and  all  sides  of  this  Con- 
vention come  exclamations  of  bitterness  and  words  that  burn,  with  a 
view  to  open  the  breach  in  our  ranks  wider  and  wider,  until  at  last, 
Curtius-like,  we  will  be  compelled  to  leap  into  it  to  close  it.  What 
advantage  will  this  give  you?     Who  will  be  benefited  by  it? 

And  so  on,  begging  for  conciliation — which  means,  cut  the  throat  of 
Douglas  !     He  said  : 

It  seems  to  me  that  gentlemen  forget  that  this  is  a  voluntary  Conven- 
tion for  the  purpose  of  selecting  a  Democratic  candidate  for  the  Presi- 
dency. And  how  do  you  expect  to  succeed  ?  Suppose,  you  Democrats 
of  the  North,  you  nominate  your  candidate,  do  you  expect  to  receive 
the  votes  of  Florida,  Mississippi,  Texas  and  Arkansas,  by  keeping  Ihem 
out  of  this  Convention,  and  keeping  up  a  constant  fire  of  invective  and 
reproach  upon  them  ?     Can  you  afFurd  to  lose  their  votes  ? 

I  invoke  this  Convention  to  admit  Florida,  Mississippi  and  Texas — 
strike  out  Arkansas  if  there  is  any  contest — and  if  there  is  to  be  a  com- 
mittee on  Credentials,  let  them  report,  let  the  Convention  decide,  and  then 
we  will  be  prepared  to  go  on  with  the  nominations.  But  as  matters 
now  stand,  the  Convention  is  losing  its  whole  power  and  frittering  away 
its  time  upon  these  little  and  formal  technicalities.  I  tell  you  that  if 
this  Convention  does  not  nominate  before  long — within  a  few  days — I 
believe  that  we  shall  become  utterly  and  irretrievably  demoralized  and 
lost. 

Mr.  Loring  of  Massachusetts,  who  had  not  been  at  the  Charleston 
Convention,  his  substitute  being  there,  said  : 

Now,  as  I  surveyed  the  doings  of  this  Convention  at  Charleston, 
what  did  I  see  ?  When  the  platfurm  of  principles  was  discussed  there, 
I  saw  a  portion  of  my  party  driven,  honestly  driven,  by  the  declarations 
therein  m.ide,  from  that  Convention,  to  take  their  stand  upon  what  they 
believed  to  be  their  constitutional  rights.     [Applause.] 

And  when  t  come  here  to-Hay  what  do  I  see  ?  Why,  I  see  these 
gentlemen  presenting  themselves  here,  and,  as  I  insist,  only  claiming 


172 

those  riirhfs  which  they  have  no  power  to  regipn  to  this  Convention. 
They  chiitn  their  right  to  sit  here  as  memhers  delegated  by  their  ^iOver- 
eign  States,  and  answerabin  to  their  sovereign  States  for  their  doings 
here.  Is  that  not  so?  Has  tliis  Convention  any  power  to  expel  or  re- 
tain, to  hind  or  hjose  ?  Has  it  any  power  to  accept  my  resignation? 
Am  I  not  answerable  to  my  constituency,  and  to  thcni  ahmi' — to  the 
party  orgjinization  that  sent  me  here  ?  And  when  I  see  those  gentle- 
men presenting  themselves  at  the  doors  of  this  Convention,  the  6rst 
impulse  of  my  heart  is,  not  to  stand  here  quibbling  \\\>\<n  questions  of 
technical  right,  but  to  open  my  arms  and  welcome  them  in  here  [ap- 
plause], and  congratulate  the  i)emocratic  party  of  this  country. 

Now,  sir.  when  I  hear  judgment  passed  here  upon  any  one  of  these 
States;  when  I  hear  it  said  that  delegates  from  any  one  of  these  States 
have  seen  tit  to  present  themselves  at  the  doors  of  another  Convention  ; 
when  T  hear  the  judgment  passed  upon  them  that  they  have  not  been 
reaecredited  to  this  Convention,  I  am  astonished — I  am  appalled.  I  do 
not  understand  such  a  position.  I  say  that  these  delegates  do  not  need 
any  reaccrediting.  The  power  they  formally  possessed  is  still  theirs, 
and  T  beg  and  implore  this  body  to  give  them  their  seats  here,  cordially 
and  freely,  and  receive  them  here  as  members  of  this  bfidy.  Sir,  what 
is  your  nnminatinn  without  that  '1  I  have  heard,  for  the  tirst  time  in  a 
Democratic  Convention,  declarations  made  that  there  are  sections  in  this 
country.  I  had  thought  I  must  go  elsewhere  for  that.  I  have  heard 
enough  of  that  in  Massachusetts. 

I  beg  this  Convention  to  interpose  no  obstacle  to  the  admission  of 
these  gentlemen.  I  beg  this  Convention  to  invite  and  assist  them  to 
come  back  ;  and  let  me  not  be  compelled  now  to  vote  upon  a  question 
which  by  a  single  technical  point  can  in  any  way  throw  obstacles  in  their 
way.  I  never  wish  to  vote  upon  it ;  but  it  must  come.  If  I  must  cast 
my  vote  upon  it,  it  shall  be  for  that  proposition,  whatever  it  may  be, 
which  shall  open  the  doors  of  this  Convention,  and  allow  our  brethren 
freely  to  come  in.      [Renewed  applause.] 

*  *  *  Gentlemen,  let  me  tell  you,  that  if  the  declaration  I  have 
heard  here  this  afternoon,  that  the  State  of  Florida  jirescnts  no  dele- 
gates to  this  Convention,  is  carried  out  by  a  vote  of  this  body,  and  if 
it  is  made  in  that  way  a  represensation  of  only  a  portion  of  the  States 
of  this  Ilnion,  I  will  resign  my  seat,  and  never  be  bound  by  its  action. 
[Loud  apjilausi'  from  Southern  delegates.] 

Mr.  King  of  Missouri  made  a  sensation  speech — the  most  unreserved 
yet  in  handling  delicate  subjects.      He  said  : 

An  amendment  is  offered  b}'  the  gentlemen  from  Pennsylvania  to 
select  some  four  States,  in  which  he  says  there  is  no  contest,  and  to 
give  to  delegates  of  those  States  certificates  accrediting  them  to  this 
Convention  on  an  equal  footing  with  other  delegates.  Now,  I  deny 
that  that  is  democratic.  If  there  never  had  been  a  whisper  that  these 
men  have  a  roving  commission  in  their  pockets  to  go  here  or  yonder, 
and  play  fast  and  loo.se  with  this  Convention  [laughtei] — if  they  came 
here  with  clean  j)a|>ers,  and  nobody  disputing  that  they  wt  re  diKpates, 
their  credentiahs  ought  to  go  to  a  committee.  That  is  the  usage  of  the 
party. 


173 

If  I  find,  from  the  report  of  the  committee,  that  they  are  accredited 
to  a  Gonveatioa  antagoaistic  to  this — and  if  I  tiiid  tliuy  have  beeu  tbere 
and  elected  their  officers  aud  taken  a  recess,  and  buve  come  liere  like 
the  man  who  went  to  a  camp-meeting  because  he  had  the  right  to  go 
there,  then  the  amount  of  it  is  that  they  are  not  entitled  to  seats  here. 
They  have  come  here  for  mischief.      [Applause.] 

Now,  if  I  have  no  authority,  still  I  verily  believe  that  they  intend, 
if  they  cannot  have  things  as  they  want  them  here,  to  go  back  to  Rich- 
mond, and  the  powers  of  heaven  and  earth  wdl  be  invoked  to  bring 
into  condemnation  the  acts  of  this  Convention.  And  they  intend  to 
put  in  nomination  some  man  who  has  neither  heels  nor  botiom  enough 
to' get  the  nomination  here,  and  put  him  up  against  the  nomination  of 
the  Democratic  party.  [Applause.]  And  if  it  turns  out,  as  I  believe 
the  facts  to  be,  in  reference  to  their  credentials,  that  they  have  no  right 
here,  so  help  me  Grod,  they  will  never  get  my  vote.  [Applause.]  But 
if  the  majority  of  the  Convention  overlook  all  that,  and  let  them  in,  I 
will  greet  them,  because  they  are  entitled  to  my  rc-pect. 

Now,  as  regards  Florida,  they  throw  themselves  upon  their  dignity, 
like  South  Carolina.  [Laughter.]  They  scouted  tbe  idea  of  coming 
here,  and  they  are  not  accredited  to  come,  and  yet  the.se  gentlemen 
want  to  bring  thein  in.  I  say' it  is  the  height  of  absurdity.  South 
Carolina,  I  am  sorry  to  have  it  to  say,  is  the  only  State  that  has  pre- 
served her  dignity.      [Laughter.] 

Let  any  man  study  the  history  of  Barnwell  Rhett  and  his  coadju- 
tors in  the  days  of  Jackson,  and  he  will  hud  that  they  would  rather 
dissolve  the  Union  than  keep  it  together.  [x\pplause.]  Look  at  the 
tone  of  the  Charleston  Mercury  since  the  Cliarleston  Convention.  It 
is  independent  enough  to  tell  the  truth,  and  it  does  tell  the  truth. 
Those  delegates  who  come  here  from  the  seceding  States  are  the  asso- 
ciates of  tho.^e  men  who  say  that  while  the  Democratic  l)arty  has  kept 
its  organization  together  nationally  it  was  a  stumbling  block  to  disunion. 
I  wonder,  when  they  come  to  Richmond,  if  they  will  try  to  keep  them- 
selves from  being  made  an  entering  wedge  to  render  it  asunder.  I  do 
not  know,  but  1  trust  they  will  indulge  in  no  such  scheme. 

Bat  these  secessionists  tell  us  that  Virginia  will  go,  and  then  as  a 
matter  of  course,  her  daughters,  Tennessee  and  Nortb  Carolina,  would 
follow  their  mammy.  And  even  Kentucky,  Maryland  and  Missouri 
would  take  the  same  course.  They  then  say,  if  you  nominate  Douglas 
it  will  be  a  sectional  nomination  as  much  as  that  of  Sewanl  ur  Lincoln, 
and  it  would  not  be  long  before  you  would  call  us  Free-Soilers,  and  even 
the  veriest  Abolitionists.  Even  now  it  is  said  that  we  are  a  bogus  Con- 
vention. High  legal  authority  at  Washington  (the  Attorney  General, 
I  suppose),  [laughter],  says  we  are  functus  ojficio.  So  1  suppose  if 
they  do  not  succeed  in  disorganizing  us,  and  go  to  Kiehn.oiul,  then 
they  will  call  us  a  bogus  concern.  In  conclusion,  be  called  upon  the 
Convention  to  hold  on  to  the  national  organizatiim.  He  did  not  believe, 
if  ei'^ht  or  ten  men  could  destroy  the  Union,  it  was  worth  preserving. 
[Applause] 

He  further  remarked,  that  if  the  delegates  from  Southern  States  who 


174 

would  not  aViide  the  decision  of  the  Convention  were  to  go  out,  there 
were  other  men  from  the  same  States  just  as  good,  ready  to  come  in. 

Mr.  West  of  Connecticut  proceeded  to  review  the  speech  of  Mr. 
Loring : 

f  ■  A  portion  of  delegates  have  seceded,  have  withdrawn.  Has  a  man 
from  Connf.ciifutV  has  a  man  from  New  England  V  has  a  man  from  the 
North  declared  that  if  certain  things  were  not  done  they  would  with- 
draw from  the  Convention  V  No,  sir ;  not  one.  We  come  here  in  good 
faith,  with  our  preferences,  it  is  true,  and  determined  to  vote  and  act 
like  freemen.  If  you  vote  us  down  we  will  go  home  and  hurrah  for 
your  candidate  the  best  we  can.     [Applause.] 

Delegates  have  withdrawn  ;  the  Hon.  gentleman  from  Massachusetts 
(Mr.  Luring),  with  whom  I  have  not  the  honor  of  an  acquaintance, 
says  that  they  were  driven  from  this  Convention.  I  ask,  in  the  name 
of  God,  how  driven?  Has  any  thing  been  done  here  that  has  not  been 
done  in  accordance  with  the  principles  and  usages  of  the  party  ?  Yet 
these  gentlemen  have  left  upon  the  records  of  this  Convention  tbeir  sol- 
emn protest  when  they  withdrew.  And  for  what  did  they  withdraw  V 
Simply  because  the  majority  would  not  bow  down  and  give  them  the 
platform  they  desired  ;  such  a  platform,  too,  as  four  years  ago  they  did 
not  ask.  [Applause.]  I  ask  the  indulgence  of  this  Convention  while 
I  read  a  single  sentence  from  the  protest  of  the  31ississippi  delegation, 
although  the  gontleman  from  Massachusetts  (Mr.  Loring)  rises  in  his 
place  and  informs  the  members  here  that  those  delegat^is  were  driven 
out  of  tiie  Convention  : 

"As  the  representatives  of  Mississippi,  knowing  her  wishes;  as  hon- 
orable men  regarding  her  commands ;  we  withdraw  from  the  Conven- 
tion, and,  as  far  as  our  action  is  concerned,  absolve  her  from  all  connec- 
tion with  this  body,  and  all  responsibility  fur  its  action.''^ 

Who  did  that  ?     Did  the  North  do  it  V 

You  came  together  with  us  in  common  council  in  Cincinnati,  and 
there  you  gave  your  unanimous  vote  for  the  platform  adopted  there. 
Four  short  years  have  gone  their  round,  and  now  you  ask  us  to  turn 
about  and  place  ourselves  in  a  position  which  would  be  absolute  death 
to  our  whole  Democratic  party  of  the  North.  [Applause.]  We  have 
fou<^ht  the  Black  Republicans  at  home  ;  we  have  been  denounced  from 
the  pulpit  and  from  tlie  press,  and  been  hissed  in  the  street.  And  now 
when  we  come  here  and  ask  you  to  reafiirm  the  same  principles  which 
every  leading  man  of  your  party  in  Congress — in  the  House  of  Ivtpre- 
sentatives  and  the  Senate  of  the  United  States — have  proclaimed,  you 
even  turn  around  and  taunt  us  with  being  Black  Republicans.  ['^'L'hat 
is  too  true,"  and  applause] 

Gentlemen  talk  of  the  vote  of  the  South  being  necessary  to  carry 
forward  and  elect  the  candidate  for  Tresiiient.  Are  not  also  the  votes 
of  the  North  necessary  to  do  that"/  Change  places  with  us;  let  us 
make  our  platform,  revive  us  with  life,  being  and  vigor,  send  our  repre- 
sentatives to  Congress,  return  our  Senators  and  elect  Governors  wljile 
you  go  down  and  light  the  enemy,  as  we  have  done,  and  see  how  you 
would  like  it.     [Applause.] 

If  you  are  determined  to  rend  this  party  and  the  Union,  our  homes 


175 

amid  the  hills  of  New  England  are  as  safe  and  as  sacred  as  yours  upon 
your  sunny  plains  with  your  thousands  of  slaves  around  you.  [Ap- 
plause.] And  we  simply  ask  that  you  shall  not  take  a  position,  and 
force  use  to  take  a  position,  which  will  be  tantamount  to  absolute  ruin 
when  we  return  to  our  constituents.  As  to  your  taunts  and  threats  we 
heed  them  not. 

The  gentleman  from  Massachusetts  (Mr.  Loring)  asks,  "Will  you 
be  bound  ?  "  Certainly;  shackle  us  by  your  party  trammels  ;  make 
your  decrees  here,  simply  give  us  the  right  to  speak  when  we  have  that 
right;  give  us  the  right  to  vote  in  common  with  you,  and  1  pledge  you 
my  word  you  will  never  hear  the  word  "secession"  from  the  North. 
[Applause.] 

An  old-fashioned  gentleman  from  Missouri,  Mr.  Plunter,  now  gave 
his  colleague,  Mr.  King,  some  attention.  Mr.  Hunter  stated  that  (iov. 
King  was  not  a  Democrat,  but  a  sort  of  Benton  man.  Mr.  Hunter 
further  remarked  : 

When  he  was  told,  in  Charleston,  that  Mr.  Douglas  would  not 
stand  upon  a  certain  platform,  he  had  said  this  Union  could  get 
along  just  as  well  if  five  hundred  Douglases  were  dead  and  out  of  the 
way.  [Applause.]  If  Mr.  Douglas  were  to  die  to-night,  there  were 
five  hundred  men  in  the  Democratic  party  who  would  make  just  as  good 
a  President  as  he.  Mr.  Douglas  had  done  and  was  doing  exactly  what 
Benton  had  done  for  the  party  in  Missouri ;  divided  and  broken  them 
up.  The  contest  between  Benton  and  the  people  of  Missouri,  had  been 
upon  the  Jackson  resolution.  His  colleague  (Mr.  King),  was  Governor 
of  Missouri  when  that  resolution  was  first  introduced,  and  was  supposed 
to  be  in  favor  of  it.  But  before  the  end  of  the  session,  he  turned 
against  it,  and  has  been  with  Col.  Benton  ever  since. 

The  old  gentleman's  quaint  remarks  put  the  Convention  in  a  good 
humor. 

Mr.  Avery  of  North  Carolina — The  remarks  that  have  fallen  from 
the  gentleman  from  Pennsylvania  (Mr.  Montgomery),  and  from  Illinois 
(Mr.  Merrick),  require  a  reply  at  my  hands.  The  speeches  of  the 
gentlemen,  I  suppose,  indicate  the  sentiments  of  their  hearts,  a  senti- 
ment I  would  not  entertain  toward  my  Northern  brethren  to  be  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  It  looks  to  us  at  the  South  as  if  it  were 
the  settled  purpose  to  drive  us  from  this  Convention.  But  there  is  got 
to  be  more  said  than  has  been  said,  before  they  can  drive  me  from  this 
Convention. 

Mr.  Avery  was  but  very  imperfectly  heard,  but  the  spirit  of  his 
remarks  was  such  as  to  irritate  the  Convention  again. 

Mr.  Atkins  of  Tennessee  appealed  for  harmony  in  the  usual  way,  and 
with  the  common  meaning,  and  called  the  previous  question.  The  call 
was  sustained  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote,  only  lllmois  and  Michigan 
voting  against  it.     The  Convention  then  adjourned. 

It  was  felt  at  the  close  of  this  long  and  warm  debate  (it  occupied 
near  six  consecutive  hours),  that  the  general  eflujct  had  been  to  damage 
Mr.  Douglas,  whose  enemies  took  courage.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Doug- 
las, however,  gathered  in  great  strength  with  their  bands  of  music 
about  the  streets,  and  concentrated  in  front  of  the  residence  of  Hon. 


176 

Revorily   Johnson,    one   (tf    their    heudn^uarters,   with   their    hands  of 
niu^ic,  and  tlicre  were  soon  nniiiy  thousands  packed  together  there. 

The  first  speech  was  Ijy  Mr.  Powell  of  New  York,  who  was  for 
Douijl.is.  But  a  lart^e  portion  of  the  crowd  was  against  Duuglus,  and 
swayed  over  toward  the  Gihuore  House,  where  deafenino;  and  persistent 
cries  (if  "  Yancey,"  "  Yancey,"  were  raided.  E.x-Senator  Souie  was  the 
principal  speaker  from  the  steps  of  Mr.  John-on's  h<iuse.  though 
Claihonit'  of  Missouri  made  a  vicdent  speech  Judge  Meek  of  Ala- 
bama anil  IJarry  of  Mi.ssissippi  spoke  to  the  Southern  crowd.  So  there 
were  two  mass  meetings  of  the  Democracy  side  by  side,  both  in  full 
blast  for  about  three  hours,  and  the  speakers  of  each  suli.»tan(ially  in 
effect,  and  sometimes  in  express  words,  reading  the  opposing  crowd  out 
of  the  party.  The  Southerners  were  the  longest  windeii,  and  ke[»t  up  a 
torrent  of  speaking  and  roar  of  shouting  for  four  hours.  It  was  sur- 
prising to  see  that  so  much  of  the  outside  pressure  was  against  Douglas. 
There  was  such  a  tremendous  and  incessant  yelling  for  Yancey,  that  a 
few  minutes  before  twelve  o'clock,  that  gentleman  appeared  and  made 
one  of  his  handsome  silver-toued  speeches,  which  sati>tied  the  crowd. 
For  the  last  hour  of  the  Southern  meeting,  the  Douglasites  congregated 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  square,  and  ga%'e  three  cheers  for  Douglas 
at  short  intervals  and  kept  a  l)and  of  music  playing  lively  airs.  This 
conflict  of  jurl.'^diction  was  for  the  most  part  good-liuniortd.  There 
was  a  surprising  number  of  people  in  the  streets  during  the  early  part 
of  the  night;  the  strangers  in  the  city  being  nuniljcred  by  tens  of  thou- 
sands, whilst  citizens  swarmed  forth  enji.yiiig  the  pleasant  air,  the 
excellent  music  discoursed  by  half  a  dozen  hands,  and  the  excitement 
of  the  politicians  who  were  in  fervent  heat  and  violent  commotion. 


SECOND    DAY. 


TiESOAT.  June  19th.  ISfiO. 

Convention  met,  with  the  expectation  on  the  part  of  those  who  had 
not  been  informed  as  to  the  action  taken  \n  caucus,  of  proceeding  at  once 
to  vote  upon  the  amendment  of  Mr.  (lilmor.  Mr.  Church  asked  unan- 
imous consent  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  motion  that  would  harmonize 
the  (Jonvention.  It  was  given.  Mr.  Church  had  had  a  consultation 
with  Mr.  tiilmor  and  said  : 

JNIr.  (lilmor  of  Penn.'^ylvania  has  consented  to  withdraw  entirely 
his  amendment,  to  my  amendment,  to  Mr.  Howard's  original  residuiicm, 
and  I  am  prepared  to  do  away  with  the  latter  pcu'tion  of  my  amendment 
ns  offi-red  yesterday,  and  make  it  only  a  reference  to  the  committee  on 
Credentials. 

Mr.  Gibnor  of  Pennsylvania  arose  and  announced  in  person  that  he 
would  withdraw  his  amendment. 

Mr.  Church  again  arose  and  withdrew  the  latter  portion  of  his  amend- 
ment, asking  that  it  be  read  by  the  Seciretary  ns  modified. 

The  Convention  now  came  to  a  vote  upon  the  naked  p-oposifion  to 
refer  all  contested  seuts  to  the  cominitt<>c  on  Croilcntials,  and  (hero  was 


177 

no  dissenting  voice.     The  resolution  as  amended  and  adopted  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

Resolved,  That  the  credentials  of  all  persons  claiming  seats  in  tliis  Convention, 
made  vacant  by  the  secession  of  delegates  at  Charleston,  be  referred  to  the  com- 
mittee on  Credentials,  and  said  committee  are  hereby  instructed,  as  soon  as 
practicable,  to  examine  the  same,  and  report  the  names  of  persons  entitled  to 
such  seats. 

Some  changes  were  announced  by  the  various  delegations  in  the  com- 
mittee on  Credentials,  which  committee  is  constituted  as  follows : 

Maine — C.  D.  Jameson.  Louisiana — Vacancy. 

New  Hampshire — A.  P.  Hughes.  Mississippi —      do. 

Vermont — Stephen  Thomas.  Texas —  do. 

Massachusetts — Oliver  Stevens.  Arkansas —        do. 

Rhode  Island — George  II.  Brown,  Missouri — Judge  Crnm,  Chairman. 

Connecticut — James  Gallagher.  Tennessee — W.  H.  Carroll. 

New  York— Del.  De  Wolf.  Kentucky— G.  F.  Wood. 

New  Jersey — A.  R.  Speer.  Oliio — Mr.  Steedmau. 

Pennsylvania — II.  M.  North.  Indiana — S.  A.  Hall. 

Delaware — John  H.  Bradley.  Illinois — W.  Allen. 

Maryland— W.  S.  Gittings.  Michigan — J.  G.  Parkhurst. 

Virginia — E.  W.  Hubbard.  Wisconsin — Mr.  Smith. 

Nortli  Carolina — R.  R.  Bridges.  Iowa — IMr.  Finch. 

South  Carolina— G.  B.  F.  Perry.  Minnesota— H.  H.  Sibley. 

Georgia — Vacancy.  California — Mr.  Gregory. 

Florida —     do.  Oregon — Gov.  Stevens. 

Alabama —  do. 

There  was  some  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  time  to  which  an  ad- 
journment should  be  taken,  there  being,  of  course,  no  business  which 
could  be  transacted  in  the  absence  of  the  committee  on  Credentials, 
with  the  cases  of  half  a  dozen  delegations  pending.  An  adjournment 
was  carried  to  five  o'clock. 

EVENING    SESSION. 

A  great  deal  of  difficulty  was  experienced  by  the  delegates  in  obtain- 
admission  to  the  Convention.  A  new  set  of  tickets  had  been  issued, 
because  the  old  ones  had  been  counterfeited,  and  crowds  obtained  ad- 
mission who  had  no  business  among  the  delegates.  But  the  two  sets 
of  tickets  were  greatly  mixed.  A  good  many  delegates  had  not  under- 
stood the  order  for  a  change  of  tickets,  and  there  was  an  immense 
amount  of  trouble  and  botheration  outside.  When  the  Convention  was 
called  to  order,  Mr.  Fisher  of  Virginia  rose  to  a  question  of  privilege, 
and  denounced  the  trained  bands  at  the  doors  of  the  Convention  and 
the  officers  of  the  Convention.  He  talked  of  secession  from  the  Con- 
vention and  a  dissolution  of  the  Union,  in  case  delegates  were  not  better 
treated.  Mr.  Stetson  of  New  York  quietly  ridiculed  the  gentleman  of 
Virginia  for  his  portentous  speech  about  a  small  matter.  The  chair 
stated  the  imperative  necessity  that  exi.sted  for  guarding  the  doors.  A 
communication  from  the  committee  on  Credentials  was  read.  It  was 
badly  written  and  badly  read  ;  and  as  read,  it  desired  the  Convention 
to  continue  its  sessions.  The  chair  said  he  would  state  the  substance 
of  the  communication  ;  and  this  was  received  with  roars  of  laughter. 
12 


178 

The  communication  was,  of  course,  that  the  committee  wanted  time, 
and  that  it  retpested  to  be  permitted  to  continue  its  session.*  There 
being  no  business  bef<irc  the  Convention,  it  adjourned  in  good  humor. 
During  the  evening  the  politicians  were  full  of  exciti-ment  about  the 
proceedings  in  the  committee  on  Credentials,  a  perwjnal  difficulty  be- 
tween Mes.-irs.  Hindman  and  Hooper  of  Arkansas,  having  given  them 
a  high  flavor. 

At  the  time  the  Convention  adjourned  there  was  a  heavy  shower,  and 
a  great  many  people  remained  in  the  theatre  ;  there  were  several  persons 
called  out  to  amuse  the  crowd.  Mr.  Fi.-^her  of  Virginia  was  called  out 
by  Marshal  Rynders,  who  led  the  fooli.-hness.  Mr.  Fisher  got  along 
tolerably  well  until  he  pronounced  emphatically  emfat  a-li — something 
being  troubling  his  vocal  organs.  Upon  this  he  was  cheered  down. 
Then  citizen  Work  of  Mississippi — known  here  as  the  man  with  the  scar- 
let vest — was  called  out,  and  had  much  to  say  of  this  degenerate  age. 
Even  the  Democracy  was  degenerating.  The  old  gentleman  swung  his 
hat  and  cane  about  his  head,  scattering  his  papers  far  and  wide,  and 
told  of  his  friendship  for  Andrew  Jackson,  making  mention  of  the  fact 
that  there  were  no  Jacksons  in  this  degenerate  age. 


THIRD    DAY. 


Wednesday,  June  20th,  1860. 

The  theatre  was  greatly  crowded  this  day,  and  thousands  swarmed 
about  the  various  public  places  of  the  city,  discussing  the  crisis.  There 
was  a  slight  controversy  between  Messrs.  Clark  and  King,  of  Missouri, 
about  Col.  Benton's  democracy ;  and  a  communieition  was  read  from 
the  Florida  delegation,  protesting  that  they  were  not  seeking  admission 
into  the  Convention.  [The  fact  is  they  were  waiting  to  be  asked,  and 
rather  solicitous  than  otherwise  on  the  subject  of  an  invitation.] 

Mr.  Ludlow  of  New  York  stated  the  committee  on  Credentials 
would  not  be  ready  to  report  until  5  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  the 
Convention  took  a  recess  until  that  time,  when  Mr.  Stuart  of  Michi- 
gan stated  the  committee  would  not  be  able  to  report  until  next  day  ; 
and  the  Convention  adjourned.  The  city  was  meanwhile  full  of  rumors 
about  the  action  of  the  committee  on  Credentials,  and  probable  results; 
and  the  controversies  between  the  opposing  factions  were  becoming  more 
embittered  every  hour. 


FOURTH   DAY 


Thdrrdat,  June  21pt.  1860, 
There  was  an   immense  crowd  in   attendance   upon   the  Convention 
this  day.     All   the  circles  of  the   theatre  were  den.sely  filled,  and   the 
floor  allotted  to  delegates  was  encumbered  by  outsiders.     Soon  after  the 


179 

call  to  order,  the  floor  in  the  centre  of  the  Convention  gave  way.  The 
accident  wis  not  serious  in  itself,  but  the  panic  was  dangerous.  Dele- 
gates rushed  in  masses  to  the  windows,  and  climbed,  nimbly  as  mon- 
keys, over  the  chairs  of  the  reporters  seeking,  according  to  appear- 
ances, to  place  themselves  under  the  protection  of  the  President.  As 
soon  as  quiet  was  restored,  another  sensation  was  produced  by  a  person 
in  the  gallery  spreading  his  umbrella,  and  suspending  it  over  a  chan- 
delier in  which  the  gas  was  burning,  as  the  day  was  quite  dark.  There 
was  danger  that  the  umbrella  would  take  fire;  and  in  ca.«G  it  did,  all 
felt  that  a  dreadful  alarm  would  spread  throughout  the  building.  A 
hundred  voices  ordered  the  man  with  the  umbrella  to  withdraw  it  from 
the  gas,  but  he  stretched  his  neck  to  see  what  the  row  was  aliout,  and 
was  astonished  to  see  every  body  looking  at  him.  He  heard  the  call 
at  last,  and  obeyed  the  multitudinous  commandment.  The  Convention 
now  took  a  recess  of  an  hour  for  the  repair  of  the  floor.  Delegates 
were  ordered  to  give  up  their  tickets  upon  re-entering  the  hall,  that  the 
masses  of  intruders  could  be  kept  out. 

Upon  reassembling,  the  reports  were  received  from  the  committee  on 
Credentials.  Mr.  Krum  of  Missouri  presented  the  majority  report,  as 
follows : 

MAJORITY   REPORT. 

To  the  President  of  the  National  Democratic  Convention  : 

SiK — The  committee'  upon  Crodcntiiils  rcspecttiilly  report,  that  prior  to  the 
adjournment  of  this  Convention  at  Cbarlostou,  on  the  3d  of  May  lust,  the  fol- 
lowing resolution  was  adopted : 

''  Kexolved,  That  when  this  Convention  adjourns  to-day,  it  adjourn  to  reassem- 
ble at  Baltimore,  Md.,  on  Monday,  the  18lh  day  of  June,  and  that  it  he  nsixct- 
fully  recumraended  to  the  Democratic  pariy  of  the  several  States  to  make 
provision  for  supplying  all  vacancies  iu  their  respective  delegations  to  this 
Convention  when  it  shall  reassemble." 

On  the  reassembling  of  this  Convention  at  Baltimore,  the  following  resolution 
wa.s  adopted  : 

''Resolved.  That  the  President  of  the  Convention  be  authorized  to  issue  tickets 
of  admission  to  seats  in  this  Convention  to  the  delegates  from  Ihe  States  of 
Arkansas,  Texas,  Florida,  and  Mississippi,  in  wliich  States  there  are  no  contesting 
delegations;  and  that  in  those  States,  to  wit,  Delaware,  Georgia,  Alabama,  and 
Louisiana,  where  there  are  contesting  delegations,  a  committee  on  Credentials 
shall  be  appointed,  by  the  several  delegations,  to  report  upon  said  States." 

Dy  the  further  order  of  the  Convention,  the;  claims  of  all  olher  persons 
claiming  seals  were  also  referred  to  your  committee.  Your  committee,  thus 
instructed,  have  proceeded  to  examine  the  claims  of  all  persons  wliich  have 
been  brought  before  them.  Your  connnittee  found  that  the  delegations  of  (he 
several  States  of  Aluliama,  Mississippi,  Loiii.siuna,  Texsis,  and  Fkirida  had 
become  wholly  vacant  Ity  reason  of  the  secession  of  the  entire  original  d<  lega- 
tions from  this  Convention  ;  the  delegations  of  the  States  of  Georgia,  Arkansas, 
and  Delaware  hod  become  vacant  in  part  only  from  the  same  cause.  In  no  other 
State  had  there  been  any  secession  ;  but  individual  seats  were  contested  iu  the 
delegations  from  the  States  of  Massachusetts  and  Missouri. 

Aside  Irom  the  above,  no  question  contesting  the  seats  of  delegates  was 
brought  to  the  notice  of  your  committee.  After  patient  and  lull  invcsstigatioa, 
your  committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  persons  hereinafter  named  in  the  resolu- 
tions, which  are  herewith  submitted  asa  part  of  this  report,  are  severally  cut  tied 
to  seats  as  delegates  in  tiii.'J  Convention,  and  they  respectfully  rtconuuend  that 
they  be  so  received  l)y  this  Convention. 

From  the  Slate  of  Florida,  no  credentials  of  any  deh'gates  were  jii'esenlid  to 
your  committee.     From  the  States  of  Mississippi  uud  Texas,  no  cou testing 


180 

cliiimiints  api)cur.  From  Alabama,  Louiniuna,  Georgia,  and  Arkansas,  there 
iipptaPMl  coiili'Hting  claiiniinU*  for  till  tliu  vacant  «satK.  Of  the  foiu-  votw  to 
which  the  State  of  ArkanHau  in  eiitilled,  the  now  «itting  dcU'j,Titc8  rtprehent  and 
vote  one.  The  stats  reprnKentiu;;  \\u-  rcnuiiniiig  three  votes  had  becoiU''  vacant 
by  the  HccirsHion  of  the  original  dele^'ates.  These  seat«  were  all  contested,  one 
set  of  contestants  consisting  of  six  per.-ons,  and  the  other  B<'t  consisting  ol  three 
perHons.  Your  couuniltee  are  of  opinion,  that  all  of  thesi;  contestants  should  be 
admitted  to  seats  a-s  dtlegates,  with  tin-  power  of  voting  a.s  hereinafter  declared 
in  the  nsDlution  herewith  reported  in  that  behalf. 

In  the  Fifth  Congressional  District  of  Massachnsetts,  it  appears  that  B,  F. 
Hallett  and  another  person  were  appointed  as  delegates  to  this  Convention,  and 
K.  8.  Chatfec!  and  another  person  were  appointed  sulietitute!?.  That  Mr.  Hallett, 
not  being  able  to  attend  at  Charleston,  noti lied  Mr.  Chattee  of  that  fact,  who 
thertMipou  i)n)ceeded  to  Charleston,  presented  his  credentials,  and  was  duly  ad- 
mitted to  his  .seat,  which  he  continued  to  till  at  the  time  of  the  adjournment  of 
this  Convention  to  Baltimore.  At  the  rea.s.-.emljliMg  of  the  Convention  al  Balti- 
more, Mr.  Hallett  appeared,  claimed  the  seat  which  had  been  awarded  to  Mr. 
Challee.  aud  receiving  the  entrance  ticket  from  the  chairman  of  the  Mas.«achusett8 
delegation,  actually  took  po.sscssion  of  the  seaL  Your  committee  were  of 
opinion  that,  when  Mr.  Hallett  had  notified  Mr.  ChalTee  that  he  could  not  fullill 
his  duty  as  delegate,  and  Mr.  Cliatfee,  repairing  to  Charleston,  had  been  duly 
admitted  to  this  Convention,  his  rights  to  his  seat  became  absolute,  and  not  sub- 
ject to  be  superseded  at  the  pleasure  of  Mr.  Hallett,  and  that  Mr.  Chattee  is  uow 
the  rightful  delegate  to  this  Convention. 

U\  the  Eighth  Electoral  District  of  Missouri  the  facts  are  precisely  parallel  to 
the  above  Massachusetts  case.  The  only  dirt'erencc  is  in  terms.  JoliM.'^Dn  B. 
Clardy  having  been  elected  delegate,  and  John  O'Fallan,  Jr..  having  been  elected 
alternate.  Your  committee,  for  reasons  above  stated,  are  of  opinion  that  Mr. 
O'Fallan  is  now  the  rightful  delegate. 

In  regard  to  the  contesting  claimants  from  Georgia,  your  committee  have  to 
report  that  the  evidence  adduced  before  your  committee  by  the  respective  parties 
presented  a  great  variety  of  novi-l  as  well  as  comple.xed  facts  aud  questions, 
touching  the  rights  of  cither  parties  to  seats.  Y'our  committee,  in  attempting 
to  solve  these  difficulties,  encountered  embarra.ssments  on  every  hand.  After  a 
most  patient  consideration  of  the  whole  matter,*it  seemed  to  your  committee 
that  the  only  way  of  reaching  a  satisfactory  adjustment,  is  to  admit  to  seals  both 
delegations,  with  power  to  each  of  said  delegations  to  cast  one-half  of  the  vote 
of  the  State,  in  the  manner  expressed  in  the  resolution  herewith  submitted. 
This  solution  seems  equitable  to  your  committee,  and  therefore  they  recommend 
the  adoption  of  said  resolution.     All  of  which  is  respeetfullv  submitted. 

'      JOHN  W.  KUUM,  Clutirman.   ' 

1.  Jieaolved,  That  George  H.  Gordon,  E.  Barksdale,  W.  F.  Barry,  H.  C.  Cham- 
bers, Joseph  R.  Davis,  Beverly  Matthews,  Charles  Clark.  Wm.  L.  Featherston. 
F.  F.  Slidell,  C.  G.  Armistead.  Wm.  F.  Avant.  and  T.  J.  Hudson  are  entitled  to 
seats  in  this  Convention,  as  delegates  from  the  State  of  Mississippi. 

2.  RtKolved,  That  Fierre  Soule,  F.  Coltman,  U.  C.  Wicklitle.  Michael  IJyan, 
Manuel  White,  Charles  Brenveneau.  Gustavus  Leroy,  J.  E.  Morse,  A.  S.  lierron. 
M.  I).  Colinar,  J.  N.  T.  Uiehardson.  and  J.  L.  Walker  are  entitled  to  se-ats  in  this 
Convention,  as  delegates  trom  the  State  of  Louisiana. 

:$.  Resolved.  That  11.  W.  Johnson.  T.  C.  Hindnian,  J.  V.  Johnson.  Leroy  Cnroll. 
J.  Gould,  and  Jnhn  A.  Jordan  be  admitted  to  seats,  as  delegates  from  the  State 
of  Arkansas,  with  power  to  cast  two  votes ;  aud  that  Thos.  H.  Bradley.  M. 
Hooper,  and  D.  C.  Cross  be  also  admitted  to  .seats,  as  delegates  from  the  same  State, 
with  power  to  cast  wi<^  f'o/* ;  and  in  case  either  portion  of  said  delegatts  shall 
refuse  or  neglect  to  take  their  said  scats,  or  to  cast  thiir  said  votes,  the  other 
portion  of  said  delegates,  taking  seats  in  this  Convention,  shall  be  entitled  to 
cast  the  entire  thn;e  votes  of  said  State. 

4.  I{e!«)lvrd,  That  (Juy  M.  Brian,  F.  K.  Lnlii>ock.  F.  8.  Starkdale,  E.  (ireer,  H. 
U.  Runnels,  Thos.  V.  Ochiltree,  M.  W.  (\ivey.  Wm.  H.  Parsons,  li.  Ward.  J.  F. 
Ci'osby,  B,  Burrows,  aud  Van  U,  Manning  are  entitled  to  seats,  as  delegates  from 
Texas. 


181 

5.  Reaolved^  That  James  A.  Bayard  and  Wm.  G.  Wliiteley  are  entitled  to  scats 
from  the  county  of  New  Custle,  Delaware. 

6.  Resolved,  That  R.  L.  CLafl'ee,  who  was  duly  admitted  at  Charleston  as  a 
delegate  from  the  Fifth  Congressional  District  of  Massachusetts,  is  still  entitled 
to  s&id  seat  in  this  Convention,  and  that  Benjamin  F.  Hallett,  who  has  assumed 
said  seat,  is  not  entitled  thereto. 

7.  Re-tolied,  That  John  O'Fallon.  Jr.,  who  was  duly  admitted  at  Charleston  as 
a  delegate  from  the  Eighth  Congressional  District  of  Missouri,  is  still  entitled  to 
said  seat  in  this  Convention  ;  and  that  John  B.  Clardy,  who  has  assumed  said 
seat,  is  not  entitled  thereto. 

8.  Resolved,  That  R.  A.  Barker,  D.  C.  Humphrey.  John  Forsyth,  Wm.  Garrett, 
J.  J.  Seivels,  S.  C.  Posey,  L.  E.  Parsons,  Joseph  C.  Bradley,  Thomas  B.  Cooper, 
James  Williams,  O.  H.  Bynum,  Samuel  W.  Wheatley,  L.  V.  B.  Martin,  John  W. 
Warrack,  W.  R.  R.  Wyatt.  Benjamin  Harrison,  Thomas  M.  Mathews,  and  Nor- 
ment  McLeod  are  entitled  to  seats  in  this  Convention,  as  delegates  from  the 
State  of  Alabama. 

9.  Re-'iolved,  That  the  delegation  from  the  State  of  Georgia,  of  which  H.  L. 
Benniug  is  chairman,  be  admitted  to  the  Convention,  with  power  to  cast  one-half 
of  the  vote  of  said  State  ;  and  that  the  delegation  from  said  State,  of  which  Col. 
Gardner  is  chairman,  be  also  admitted  to  the  Convention,  with  power  to  cast 
one-half  of  the  vote  of  said  State  ;  and  if  either  of  said  delegations  refuse  or 
neglect  to  cast  the  vote  as  above  indicated,  that  in  such  case  the  delegates  pres- 
ent in  the  Convention  be  authorized  to  cast  the  full  vote  of  said  State. 

Mr.  Stevens  of  Oregon  presented  the 

MIXORITT   REPORT. 

7b  the  Premdent  of  Uie  Democratic  National  Convention  : 

Sir — We,  the  undersigned,  members  of  the  committee  on  Credentials,  feel 
constrained  to  dissent  from  many  of  the  views  and  a  large  portion  of  the  action 
of  the  majority  of  the  committee  in  respect  to  the  rights  of  delegates  to  scats 
referred  to  them  by  the  Couvention,  and  to  respectfully  recommefid  the  adoption 
of  the  following  resolutions  : 

1.  Resolved,  That  B.  F.  Hallett  is  entitled  to  a  scat  in  this  Couvention  as  a 
delegate  from  the  5lh  Congressional  District  of  Massachusetts. 

2.  Resolved.  That  Johnson  B.  Clardy  is  entitled  to  a  seat  in  this  Convention  as 
a  delegate  from  the  8th  Congressional  District  of  the  State  of  Missouri. 

3.  Resolved,  That  James  A.  Bayard  and  W.  G.  Wliiteley  are  entitled  to  seats  iu 
this  Convention  as  delegates  from  the  State  of  Delaware. 

4.  Resolved,  Thai  the  delegation  headed  by  R.  W.  Johnson  are  entitled  to  seats 
as  delegates  in  this  Convention  from  the  State  of  Arkansas. 

5.  Resolved,  That  the  delegation  of  which  Guy  N.  Bryan  is  chairman,  are  en- 
titled to  si'ats  as  delegates  in  this  Convention  from  the  State  of  Texas. 

6.  Resolved,  That  the  delegation  of  which  John  Tarieton  is  chairman,  are  en- 
titled to  seats  in  this  Convention  as  delegates  from  the  State  of  Louisiana. 

7.  Rcfolved,  That  the  delegation  of  which  L.  P.  Walker  is  chairman,  arc  en- 
titled to  seats  in  this  Convention  from  the  State  of  Alabama. 

8.  Resolved,  That  the  delegation  of  which  Henry  L.  Benning  is  chairman,  are 
entitled  to  seats  in  this  Convention  from  the  State  of  Georgia. 

9.  Resolved,  That  the  delegation  from  the  State  of  Florida,  accredited  to  the 
Charleston  Convention,  are  entitled  to  take  seats  in  this  Convention,  and  cast 
the  vote  of  Florida. 

The  principles  involved  in  these  resolutions,  and  the  facts  on  which  they  rest, 
are  of  such  gravity  and  moment,  that  we  deem  it  due  to  the  Convention  and  to 
ourselve.s  to  set  them  forth  with  care  and  particularity.  We  difier  radically 
,  from  the  majority  of  the  committee,  both  in  much  of  the  action  we  recommend 
to  the  Convention  and  the  principles  which  should  control  such  action.  It  is  a 
question  not  simply  of  the  integrity,  but  the  existence  of  the  Democratic  party 
in  several  Slates  of  this  Union.  It  is  a  (juestion  whether  the  Democratic  party 
in  said  States  shall  be  ostracised  and  branded  as  unworthy  of  altiliation  with  the 
national  organization. 

It  is  a  question  whether  persons  irregularly  called,  or  withdrawing  from  the 


182 

rogiilur  Convention,  nhall  have  tlic  panction  of  the  National  Convention  to  raise 
tlif  liu^  of  nlx-llion  ajraiiist  ttu'ir  rc^pi-ctive  Statu  orftaiiizations.  It  is  a  queft- 
tion  wiicthiT  thf  Convention  itxelf  shall  repudiate  its  own  deliberat''  action  at 
Ciiarlistun.  We  do  not  maj^nify  the  importance  of  thepe  questions  when  we  as- 
sert tliat  upon  their  proper  solution  d'pends  the  fact  as  to  wheth-r  there  shall 
be  a  National  Democratic  party  or  not.  Thi'  task  will  not  be  diflicult  to  show 
that  the  action  recommended  by  the  majority  of  the  committee  is  grossly  incon- 
sistent.  and  shouhl  be  reprobatid  and  condemned  by  this  Convention.  Put  to 
the  ta.>ik,  without  further  preainlde. 

Reserving  to  the  closing  portion  of  this  report  the  cases  of  contested  scats  in 
the  Ma>.<achuselts  and  Missouri  delegations,  we  come  at  once  to  the  ca.«eK  of  the 
dilfgates  who  withdrew  from  the  Charleston  Convention.  This  Convention,  oa 
the  eve  of  its  adjournment  at  ('harleston,  and  in  the  great  cau.se  of  the  restora- 
tion of  harmony  to  our  distracted  party,  "respectfully  r'commeiided  to  the 
Democratic  party  of  the  several  States  to  make  provision  for  supplying  all  va- 
cancies in  their  respective  delegations  to  this  Convention  when  it  shall  rea.sss^ra- 
ble."  We  call  particular  attentimi  to  the  wording  of  the  re.solution.  Certain 
delegates  had  withdrawn.  They  had  placed  on  the  Convention  the  reasons  of 
their  withdrawal. 

They  still,  however,  were  the  representatives  of  the  Democratic  party  of  their 
several  States.  Their  withdrawal  ^vas  not  a  resignation.  It  was  not  so  considered 
by  the  Convention.  The  vacancies  referred  to  had  reference  to  the  contin- 
gency of  vacancies  at  the  lime  of  rcai^femhUug,  and  the  resolution  proposed  to  pro- 
vide for  supplying  them.  The  Convention  did  not  presume  to  touch  the  ques- 
tion as  to  whether  the  withdrawal  of  the  delegates  constituted  a  resignation, 
nor  had  it  any  right  to  interfere  in  the  matter.  A  resignation  must  be  made  to 
the  ajjpointing  power,  and  to  be  complete  and  tinal  must  be  accepted  by  the 
appointing  power.  It  was  well  known  on  the  adjournment  of  the  Convention  at 
Charleston,  that  the  withdrawing  delegates  desired  the  instruction  of  their  sev- 
eral constituencies  before  deciding  on  their  future  course. 

Such  Wivs  the  spirit  and  purpose  of  their  deliberations  at  Charleston.  They 
consulted  their  respective  constituencies.  In  every  ca.se  except  the  ca.«e  of 
South  Carolina,  their  constituencies  directed  or  authorized  them— the  vacancies 
being  tilled  as  contemplated  in  the  resolution  of  the  Convention — to  repair  to 
Baltimore,  and  there  in  earnest  ettbrts  with  their  brethren  of  the  Convention,  to 
endeavor  once  more  to  unite  their  party,  and  prnmote  harmony  and  peace  in 
the  great  cause  of  their  country.  The  resolution  of  the  Convention  did  not  pre- 
judge the  question,  since  so  strenuously  raised,  that  their  withdrawal  was  a  re- 
signation, Ijut  left  the  whole  qu  -siion  to  the  said  delegates,  and  their  respective 
constituencies,  to  the  end  that  every  State  of  this  Union  might  be  repre.sented 
in  Baltimore. 

The  committee  has  passed  resolutions,  declaring  by  a  vote  of  l(i  to  9.  that  the 
delegation  from  Louisiana  headed  by  I'iirre  Soule,  by  a  vote  of  14  to  11,  that 
the  delegation  from  Alaliama  liead'd  by  I'ai-sons,  by  a  vote  of  13  to  10.  and  that 
hall  of  each  delegation  claiming  seats  from  (Georgia,  are  entith  d  to  seats  in  the 
Convention.  The  resolutions  n-commend'd  by  the  undersigned  to  the  Conven- 
tion, declare  the  right  of  the  delegations  ilecied  to  Charleston,  with  vacancies 
supplied,  as  contemplated  in  the  resolution  of  the  Convention  to  which  refer- 
ence has  bei'u  made,  and  accredited  to  Baltimore,  to  said  seats.  The  committee 
which  thus  recommend  tli>'  irregular  (h  legates  from  these  three  States,  hav«-  rc- 
jicti'd  the  irregular  delegates  Irom  Delaware,  and  admitted  the  Charleston  dele- 
gates. 

It  has  admitted  irregular  delegates  from  .Vrkansas.  and  rejected  a  portion  of 
the  Charleston  delegates,  as  tnodiliid  l)y  ihe  tilling  of  vacancies.  It  ha-s  admit- 
teil  the  (Charleston)  delegates  from  Mississippi,  by  a  vote  of  23  to  2,  and  the 
(Charleston)  delegates  from  Texas,  by  a  vote  of  19  to  6,  The  fact  that  drhga- 
tioiis  ari'  not  contested,  does  not  estalilish  tii<'  right  to  seats  in  the  Convention. 
There  may  be  irregular  d -legat'S  wiiliout  contest,  and  there  may  be  a  contt«t 
between  two  sets  of  irregular  deb-gates.  The  right  of  persons  to  w  als  as  dele- 
gates is  to  be  determined  by  the  fact  as  to  whether  they  were  appointfd  by  the 
constituency  which  they  claim  to  npresent,  and  ai)pointed  according  to  the 
usages  of  said  constituency.     Wanting  these  essential  prere<{ui8ites,  they  are  not 


183 

entitled  to  si^ats,  even  if  there  be  no  contestants  ;  and  having  these,  their  right 
to  seats  is  not  impaired  or  affected  by  contestants. 

The  committee,  in  decidins;  by  a  vote  of  23  to  2.  that  the  Charleston  delegates 
from  Mississippi  are  entitled  to  seats  in  the  Baltimore  Convention,  have  decided 
rightly,  just  because  they  were  duly  accredit(d  to  Charleston,  have  never  since 
resigned,  and  have  received  instructions  from  the  State  of  Mississippi,  through  a 
Convention  called  of  the  Democratic  Executive  Committee  of  the  State,  to  re- 
turn to  Baltimore. 

The  Charleston  delegates,  both  from  Alabama  and  Georgia,  stand  in  precisely 
the  same  position.  They  were  also  duly  accredit!  d  to  Charleston.  Th(  y  with- 
drew, and  never  resigned.  They  returned  to  their  respective  constituencies. 
The  Executive  Committees  in  these  States,  as  in  the  case  of  Mississippi,  called  a 
Convention  of  the  party.  The  Conventions  met.  The  delegates,  as  in  the  case 
of  Mississippi,  submitted  their  action  to  the  Conventions,  and  these  Conventions 
approved  their  course,  continued  their  powers,  and  accredited  them  to  Baltimore. 
Their  rights  stand  on  precisely  the  same  basis,  and  are  sustained  by  the  same 
authority,  as  in  Mississipyii.  The  contestants  were  appointed  by  nobody  author- 
ized to  meet  according  to  the  usages  of  the  party  iu  these  States,  and  are  not 
entitled  to  any  consideration  whatever. 

In  the  case  of  Alabama,  the  Convention  assembled  on  the  call  of  the  Demo- 
cratic Ex(^cutive  Committee  (addressed  to  the  Democracy  of  the  State),  was  very 
largely  attended,  nearly  every  county  in  the  State  having  been  represented.  A 
small  number  of  persons,  however,  issued  a  notice,  which  was  pul)lished  in  only 
three  newspapers  in  the  State — in  two  papers  the  notice  was  without  .signers. 
and  in  the  third  paper  (Mobile  Register),  it  was  signed  by  John  Forsyth  and 
thirty-five  others.  The  notice  in  one  paper  called  upon  all  Democrats  and  oil 
other  persons — in  the  second  paper  upon  Democrats  and  all  conservatives,  and  iu  the 
third  paper  (Mobile  Register),  upon  the  pcojjle  of  Alabama  to  hold  county  meet- 
ings and  send  delegates  to  a  State  Convention  to  be  held  in  Montgomery  or 
Selma,  the  4th  day  of  June,  to  appoint  delegates  to  .Baltimore.  Tw^enty-eight 
counties  only  out  of  fifty-two  were  represented. 

It  was  the  coming  together  of  persons  from  all  parties  outside  of  the  regular 
organization  to  strike  down  the  Democracy  oC  the  State.  It  was  a  call  without 
any  official  authority  whatsoever.  We  thus  fi.ul  the  Democracy  of  the  State  as- 
semliling  in  Convention  according  to  the  usages  of  the  parly,  and  we  find  at  the 
same  tifue  persons  assembling  at  the  call  of  unauthorized  individuals.  In  the 
former  case  the  whole  State  was  representid.  In  tlie  latter  about  half  of  the 
State.  Yet  the  majority  of  the  committee  have  indorsed  the  action  of  the  De- 
mocracy of  Alabama  and  have  repudiated,  contrary  to  all  precedent,  usage, 
right  and  justice,  the  action  of  the  former;  not  only  this,  they  have  repudiated 
the  principles  of  their  own  action  in  the  case  of  the  Mississippi  delegation. 

But  the  action  of  the  majority  of  the  connnittee  in  the  case  of  Georgia  has 
gone  one  step  further  in  its  disregard  of  the  acknowledged  principles  of  the 
party.  The  Convention  which  the  committee  put  on  an  equality  Mitli  tin-  r(>gu- 
larly  authorized  Convention,  consisted  in  great  part  of  persons  who  just  ))arti- 
cipnted  in  the  regular  Democratic  Convention  of  the  State.  The  regular  called 
Convention  consisted  of  nearly  four  hundred  delegates,  representing  nearly  all 
the  counties  of  the  State.  The  resolutions  of  the  Convention  having  been 
adopted  by  a  vote  of  290  to  41,  these  latter  withdrew  from  the  Convention  and 
organized  anew.  Thus  the  majority  of  your  committee  have  exalted  the  pre- 
tensions of  less  than  one-eighth  of  the  delegates  of  the  State  Convention  to  an 
equality  with  the  rights  of  seven-eighths  of  the  Democracy  of  the  Statt'. 

In  the  case  of  Louisiana,  the  old  Convention,  which  originally  ai)point(  d  the 
delegal(!8  to  Charleston,  was  reassembled,  on  the  call  of  the  Exi'cutive  Commit- 
tee of  the  State,  and  by  a  decisive  majcyity  accredited  the  ("harleston  dehgates 
to  Baltimore.  The  reasons  for  this  action  have  their  parallels  in  the  case  of 
Texas  and  Delaware,  which  have  received  the  sanction  of  the  committee.  In 
Texas,  the  delegates  come  back  accredited  l)y  the  Democratic  Exiculive Commit- 
tee simply — it  being  a  manifest  impossibility,  from  want  of  time,  to  assemble 
the  party  in  a  State  Convention  ;  and  in  Delaware,  under  Wv^  usages  and  rules  of 
the  party,  the  old  Convention  was  reassembled.  In  Louisiana  there  was  lime  to 
aseemble  the  old  Cuuvention,  but  not  to  order  an  election  ot  delegates  in  the 


184 

Bcveral  pariRhes  to  meet  a  new  Convention.  The  Executive  Committee  did 
every  tiling  it  could  to  pet  the  e.\pres«ion  of  the  views  of  the  Stute.  It  rea»- 
senilikd  the  old  Convention,  nearly  every  parish  in  the  State  being  represented, 
and  accredited  the  Charleston  delejrates  to  lialtiniore. 

But  the  Couv"  iition  whose  delegiitis  to  Haltiinore  have  }>ecn  indorsi-d  by  the 
majority  of  your  cominiltee.  was  called  at  the  instance  of  two  local  orfjcani/.ations, 
and  of  Dr.  Cottnian,  a  former  member  of  the  National  Executive  Conunittee  of 
the  party.  The  calls  were  somewhat  conHictin!,'.  The  notice  did  not  reach 
many  pari.shes  in  the  Slate.  Only  twenty  puri>hep  out  of  liiirty-nine  are  pre- 
tcndid  to  be  re])resented.  and  in  several  of  these  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  the 
fact  that  the  delegates  did  not  leave  behind  them  a  single  constituent  agreeing 
with  th'iii  in  sentiments.  In  not  a  single  parish  was  this  call  rrspondid  to  Viy 
a  majority  of  the  Democratic  voters.  The  Convention  only  represented  a  very 
small  portion  of  the  party — it  was  totally  irregular,  besides. 

The  majority  of  the  committee  object  to  the  action  of  the  old  Convention  on 
its  reassembling  at  the  call  of  the  Executive  Committee,  on  the  ground  that  it 
was  defunct  and  could  not  be  brought  to  life.  Yet  it  indor.ses  the  action  of  the 
other  Convention  on  the  call  in  part  of  the  equally  defunct  member  of  the 
National  Committee,  Dr.  Cottman.  Following  the  usage  of  Delaware,  by  the 
Executive  Committee  of  Louisiana,  though  manifestly  a  necessity  for  the  reasons 
stated,  has  no  weight  as  a  precedent  with  this  majority.  Conceding  their  i;round 
of  its  being  irregular,  seats  as  delegates  should  be  given  to  the  body  called  by 
the  regular  authority  and  not  to  the  body  assembled  by  no  responsilde  authority 
whatever,  and  especially  when  the  former  represented  the  great  body  of  th<' par- 
ty and  the  latter  did  not.  All  these  considerations,  however,  have  been  disre- 
garded by  the  majority  of  the  committee,  who  have  persisted,  liy  a  vote  of  16  to 
9,  to  award  the  seats  as  delegates  to  the  representatives  of  the  disorganizing  mi- 
nority Convention. 

In  the  case  of  Arkansas,  the  majority  of  the  committee  propose  to  divide  out 
the  .seats  to  all  applicants.  In  this  State  the  Democratic  party  were  about  as- 
sembling in  their  District  Conventions,  consisting  of  delegates  from  the  several 
counties  of  the  State,  for  the  nomination  of  members  of  Congress,  when  their 
delegates  returned  from  Charleston.  As  in  Texas,  there  was  not  time  for  the  as- 
sembling of  a  State  Convention.  lu  these  District  Conventions,  delegates  were 
selected  to  represent  the  party  at  Baltimore.  A  call  was  however  issued  in  a 
Memphis  paper,  without  any  signature  whatever,  calling  upon  the  pe()ple  of  the 
Northern  District  to  assemble  in  mass  meeting  at  Madison,  to  elect  delegates  to 
Baltimore. 

Some  four  or  five  hundred  men  from  ten  to  twelve  counties  thus  assembled  and 
appointed  three  delegates  to  Baltimore.  The  majority  of  the  committee  pro- 
pose to  allow  these  men  to  vote  in  the  Convention.  There  are  twt'uty-seveu 
counties  and  twenty-live  thousand  voters  in  the  district.  Col.  Iliiulman.  a  dele- 
gate, elected  by  the  District  Convention,  to  Baltinu^re.  was  elected  to  Congress. 
in  18.58,  by  eighteen  thousand  majority,  and  was  unanimously  renominated  by 
the  Convention  which  selected  him  as  a  delegate  to  Baltimore.  These  facts  show 
the  significance  of  the  action  of  the  District  Convention  in  electing  delegates  to 
Baltimore  as  representing  truly  the  sentiment  of  the  Demoeraiic  party  of  the 
district,  and  they  exhibit  the  utter  insignilieaMCe  of  the  anonymously  called 
Convention,  for  it  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  it  was  held  at  a  central  point,  at 
the  western  terminus  of  the  railroad  from  Meiniiliis,  and  where  several  stage  and 
wagon  routes  meet.  They  were  elected  as  delegates  generally  from  the  State  to 
the  National  Convention,  with  the  hope  that  they  might  get  in  without  any  deli- 
nitc  claim. 

In  Massachusetts  and  Missouri,  the  contest  is  between  principals  now  holding 
their  seats  and  substitutes  who  held  their  places  at  Charleston.  In  each  ca.se 
the  princii)al  was  detained  at  home  liy  sickness  iu  his  family.  In  each  ease  the 
principal  gave  notice  to  his  substitute  that  he  should  take  his  seat  at  Baltimore. 
The  majority  of  the  committee  hold  that  the  principals,  elected  as  such  liy  the 
pro[)er  CouN'entions,  are  not  entitled  to  their  seats  and  have  reported  acciutling- 
ly.  We  hold  that  a  sul)stitute  is  ai)poiiile(l  simply  to  act  in  tin;  al)senee  of  the 
principal,  and  that  his  authority  ceases  wlienever  the  ]irincipal  makes  his  appear- 
ance and  takes  bis  seat.     We  emphatically  declare  that  such  lia.s  been  the  iuva- 


185 

riablH  usage  in  all  Conventions  of  the  party,  whether  National  or  State,  and 
that  it  is  based  on  reason  and  the  representative  principle. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

ISAAC  I.  STEVENS.  Oregon. 

A.  R.  SPEER.  New  Jersey. 

H.  M.  NORTH.  Pennsylvania. 

JNO.  H.  BEWLEY,  Delaware. 
•    E.  W.  HUBBARD.  Virginia. 

R.  R.BRIDGERS.  North  Carolina. 

WM.  H.  CARROLL.  Tennessee. 

GEO.  H.  MORROW.  Kentucky. 

D.  S.  GREGORY,  California. 

In  the  points  of  diflTerence  between  the  majority  and  minority  reports  of  the 
committee  on  Credentials,  I  concur  in  the  conclusions  of  the  minority  report  in 
the  cases  of  Georgia,  Alabama,  Missouri  and  Massachusetts. 

AARON  V.  HUGHES,  New  Hampshire. 

Mr.  Stevens — It  will  be  observed  that  the  committee  are  nearly 
unanimous,  and  the  two  reports  agree  in  the  case  of  Texas,  Missouri 
and  Delaware.  I  am  requested  to  state  that  the  delegate  from  Tennes- 
see dissents  from  a  portion  of  the  conclusion  of  the  committee,  but  votes 
under  instruction  of  his  co-delegates;  also  that  the  gentleman  from 
New  Hampshire  agrees  with  the  report  of  the  minority,  in  the  case  of 
Georgia,  Alabama,  Massachusetts  and  Missouri. 

Mr.  W.  S.  Gittings  of  Maryland  also  made  a  report,  which  he  sub- 
sequently withdrew.  Mr.  Krum  took  the  floor,  and  after  a  few  remarks 
yielded  it  to  Mr.  Stevens.  He  was  appealed  to,  at  this  moment,  to 
move  the  previous  question  on  the  report.  The  question  then  was 
whether  he  had  yielded  temporarily  or  entirely  to  Mr.  Stevens,  and 
whether  he  could  resume  the  floor.  There  was  a  long  contest  on  the 
point  of  order,  ending  by  Mr.  Stevens  moving  the  previous  question. 
He  could  well  affijrd  to  do  this,  as  his  report  was  universally  acknowl- 
edged to  be  a  remarkably  strong  document,  presenting  the  case  of  the 
seceders  in  the  clearest  possible  light  and  with  singular  skill.  It  at 
once  became  evident  that  New  York  was  shaky.  Several  of  her  dele- 
gates made  appeals  for  an  adjournment,  that  New  York  might  have  time 
for  consultation  While  the  Convention  was  struggling  toward  an  ad- 
journment, Mr.  Butler  of  Mass.  announced  that  the  tickets  furnished 
delegates  had  been  forged,  and  that  crowds  of  intruders  admitted  by 
forged  tickets  were  on  the  floor  of  the  Convention. 

In  order  to  accommodate  New  York,  the  committee  took  a  recess  until 
half-past  four  o'clock.  The  demand  of  New  York  for  time  to  consider, 
was  a  surprise,  as  it  was  known  that  she  had  been  in  caucus  on  the 
very  point  regarding  which  she  was  undecided,  and  had  concluded,  by  a 
small  nuijority,  to  sustain  the  majority  report.  At  the  hour  to  which 
the  Convention  took  a  recess,  the  theatre  was  crowded  in  every  part 
except  the  seats  of  the  New  Yorkers,  which  were  vacant.  Mr.  Ludlow 
presently  appeared  and  apologized  for  New  York,  and  asked  more  time. 

In  a  hopeless  sort  of  way  the  Convention  adjourned.  The  Douglas 
men  were  rather  disheartened.  They  would  have  voted  against  an  ad- 
journment, but  it  would  have  been  useless.  New  York  was  profoundly 
anathematized  for  her  dishonest  and  cowardly  procrastination.  The 
immediate  impression  was  that  the  New  Yorkers  were  at  the  last  mo- 


186 

ment  proposiriGj  to  sinnghtcr  Doujjlas.  The  streets  were  full  of  excited 
men.  an'l  the  atmosphere  electric  with  a  personal  war-spirit.  Jutt  before 
the  ailjournment,  Mr.  Montgomery,  member  of  Congress  from  Penn- 
sylvania, made  a  disturbance  about  tickets  of  admi.ssion  to  the  hall,  and 
Mr.  Randall  of  Pa.,  questioning  his  statements,  he  spoke  of  Mr.  Ran- 
dall in  a  very  sneering  way  as  "  This  poor  old  man."  A  sensation 
scene  followed.  After  adjournment,  a  son  of  Mr.  Randall  waited  for 
Mr.  Montgomery  on  the  street,  and  rushing  up,  di-alt  him  several  s-evere 
blows  in  the  face,  causing  the  blood  to  flow  profusely.  •Montgomery, 
a  powerful  man,  recovering  from  the  shock  of  the  assault,  knticked 
Randall,  a  slender  little  fellow,  down.  The  crowd  then  separated  them. 
There  was  intense  excitement  throughout  the  evening.  Rumors  as  to 
the  action  of  the  New  York  delegation  were  constantly  circulated. 
About  nine  o'clock  it  became  understood  that  New  York  had  agreed  to 
sustain  the  majority  report.  Her  delegation  had  divided  upon  the  sev- 
eral propositions  of  the  report,  and  had  sustained  them  all  by  a  consider- 
able majority.  This  news  greatly  reas.«ured  the  friends  of  Mr.  Douglas, 
and  they  became  exultant.  They  had  been,  however,  gradually  for  a 
couple  of  days  thinning  out,  and  the  outside  pressure  turning  against 
them.  However,  they  rallied  as  usual  in  Monument  S(juare,  and  were 
more  noisy  and  arrogant  than  ever.  The  Southerners  al.-o  congregrated 
and,  according  to  custom,  cried  "  Yancey,"  "  Yanoey."  The  Plugs 
also  turned  out  strong,  and  diversified  the  exercises  by  many  times 
giving  "  Three  cheers  for  Bell  and  Everett." 

These  maes  meetings  at  night  did  much  to  exasperate  the  pending  con- 
troversy. They  were  held  side  by  side,  and  the  prevailing  sentiment  in 
each  was  hostility  to  the  other.  The  friends  of  Douglas  denounced 
the  others  as  di.sorganizers,  bolters,  traitors,  and  disunionisfs.  The 
Southerners  called  the  Douglasites  a  sneaking  species  of  Abolitioni.sts. 
Douglas  delegates  from  Pennsylvania  declared  that,  if  any  of  the  dele- 
gation from  that  State,  or  any  other  Northern  State,  refused  to  confirm 
the  nomination  of  Douglas,  or  joined  the  Seceders'  Convention,  they 
would  not  dare  return  to  their  families.  At  the  stops  in  front  of  the 
residence  of  Reverdy  John.son,  the  true  test  of  Democracy  wouM  ap- 
pear to  be  devotion  to  Douglas.  At  the  balcony  of  the  Gilmore  House, 
the  test  .seemed  to  be  hostility  to  Douglas.  It  was  the  habit  of  hun- 
dreds of  noisy  fellows  to  appear  every  night  in  the  square  and  cry 
"  Yancey."  Yancey,"  at  the  top  of  their  voices  for  hours.  Yancey  on 
two  occasions  responded.  He  said  he  was  neither  for  the  I'nion  per  se, 
nor  again.st  it  per  se,  but  he  was  for  the  Constitution.  He  denounced 
the  friends  of  Douglas  as  small  men.  with  selfish  aim.s — as  corrupt  and 
abolitionized.  They  were  ostrich-like — their  head  was  in  the  sand  of 
squatter  sovereignty,  and  they  did  not  know  their  great,  ugly,  ragged 
abolition  body  was  exposed. 

^Ir.  Hunter  of  Louisiana,  in  announcing  the  action  of  the  committee 
on  Credentials,  said  there  were  men  on  that  committee  who  should  not 
cross  his  threshold — and  a  \ady  of  his  family  should  not  speak  to  them. 
Thoy  were  men  without  honor  or  decency.  The  Douglas  men  had  lilowed 
and  dragged  about  their  honor,  and  in  so  doing  they  lied,  and  now 
they  lied.     They  talked  of  carrying  the  cotton  States.     The  Louisiana 


187 

delegation  was  ready  to  enter  into  bonds  to  bet  one  million  of  dollars  that 
Douglas  could  not  carry  one  of  those  States,  He  dared  Douglas  men 
who  had  talked  of  betting  to  face  the  music  of  that  proposition.  He 
spoke  of  Douglas  and  his  followers  as  bankrupts  in  poiket  and 
principle,  as  profligates  and  impo.stors  and  cowards.  The  Douglas 
orators  were  all  the  while  proclaiming  the  greatness  and  honor  of  their 
candidate — and  assuming  that  all  opposition  to  him  was  treason  to  the 
party,  and  must  be  ranked  as  Southern  di^unionism  or  Northern  Aboli- 
tionism. On  the  outskirts  of  the  mass  meetings  every  evening  were  to 
be  seen  scores  of  groups  of  men,  crowding  close  and  talking,  nut  loudly, 
but  with  deep  emphasis,  every  group  concentrating  and  intensifying  the 
greater  antagonism  of  the  mass  meetings.  The  Southerners  would  be 
claiming  "all  the  rights  of  the  slaveholding  States  as  co-equal  States," 
and  the  Northerners  by  turns  beseeching  their  opponents  for  a  living 
chance  for  success,  and  threatening  them  with  an  Abolition  President. 
The  controversies  would  become  personal.  A  Douglasite  would  sneer- 
ingly  ask :  "What  office  has  old  Buchanan  given  you".'"  And  the 
response  would  be:  "What  office  has  Douglas  promised  you'll" 
Meanwhile  personal  difficulties  were  occurring  at  short  intervals,  and 
the  cauldron  boiled  and  bubbled  more  and  more.  There  was  the 
Hindman  and  Hooper  difficulty,  the  Whiteley  and  Townsend  difficulty, 
and  the  Montgomery  and  Randall  difficulty,  and  filty  others  of  less 
note. 


FIFTH    DAY. 


Baltimore,  Fiiday,  June  22d. 

Definite  action  was  expected  this  morning,  and  there  was  an  immense 
crowd  in  the  circles  of  the  theatre,  while  the  floor,  by  the  adoption  of 
precautions  against  interlopers,  was  tolerably  clear. 

The  President  stated  that  the  Convention  had,  on  the  previous  day, 
ordered  "the  main  question  to  be  now  put."  The  majority  and  minor- 
ity reports  from  the  committee  on  Credentials  were  now  read.  Mr. 
Gittiiigs  of  Maryland  withdrew  the  report  which  he  had  oflfered.  Mr. 
Kruu)  of  Missouri,  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  Credentials,  was 
allowed  to  close  the  debate  upon  it,  and  made  a  reply  to  Stevens's 
minority  report.  It  was  ineffectual,  however,  entirely  failing  to  break 
the  force  of  the  document  by  the  gentleman  from  Oregon. 

The  Hon.  Bedford  Brown  of  North  Carolina  now  attempted  a  speech. 
He  said  it  would  give  him  "  infinite  pleasure  to  pour  oil  upon  the 
agitated  waves" — when  Mr.  Gorman  of  Minnesota  called  him  to  order. 
Mr.  Stevens  of  Oregon  wished  to  utter  a  single  sentence,  but  Stuart  of 
Michigan  objected,  and  insisted  upon  proceeding  to  business. 

The  first  question  was  upon  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Stevens  of  Oregon, 
which  was  moved  as  a  substitute  for  the  report  of  the  committee.  Just 
here  occurred  an  illustrative  specimen  of  the  style  of  ruling  by  Mr. 
Gushing.     On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Stevens,  the  chair  said  : 

The  chair  understands  that  motion  to  be  equivalent  to  a  motion  to 


18a 

strike  out  and  insert,  and  althouj^h  the  chair  feols  that  there  may  be 
some  doul)t  as  to  what  t^hould  be  the  construction  of  a  case  like  this,  of 
indeed  what  is  the  true  construction  of  the  universal  rule  that  a  iriotion 
to  strike  out  and  insert  is  indivisible,  without  going  into  the  question 
whether  that  universal  declarHtion  applies  to  that  motion  itself  or  what 
is  behind  the  motion,  the  chair  has  on  reflection  come  to  the  conclusion 
to  rule  that  this  motion  to  strike  out  and  insert  is  indivisible,  and  there- 
fore unless  overruled  by  the  Convention,  he  will  be  prepared  to  put  the 
question  to  the  Convention  upon  the  series  of  resolution  in  block. 

Having  come  to  that  conclusion  upon  of  course  a  prima  facie  reflec- 
tion upon  the  subject,  subject  to  being  overruled,  the  chair  had  conceived 
that  if  the  resolution  offered  by  the  gentleman  from  Oregon  should  be 
adopted  on  a  motion  to  strike  out  and  insert,  then  they  would  be  divisi- 
ble, and  the  separate  propositions  contained  in  the  report  of  the  minority 
would  bo  susceptible  of  being  voted  upon  separately;  or  if  the  motion 
of  substitution  should  be  rejected,  then  upon  the  Convention  being 
brought  to  a  vote  upon  the  resolutions  presented  by  the  gentleman  from 
Missouri  (Mr.  Krum),  those  propositions  would  be  separable. 

Mr.  Cochrane  of  New  York  appealed  from  the  decision  of  the  chair 
and  made  a  speech  on  the  point,  and  then  withdrew  his  appeal.  There 
were  now  loud  cries  of  "Question,"  "question."  The  vote  was  taken 
on  the  substitution  of  the  minority  for  the  majority  report.  At  this 
moment  the  chair  made  a  sugorestion,  that  in  the  declaration  of  the  vote 
"  being  of  a  momentous  character  in  its  party  relations,'  involving 
much  interest  and  emotion,  there  should  not  be  any  manifcitalions  of 
approbation.     The  chair  remarked  : 

If  the  Convention  will   itself  set  that   example  of  dignified   decorum 
in   the  gravest  of  all   possible   questions  in  which  any  of  us  can   be 
placed,  it  will  be  surely  for  the  advantage  of  the  Convention  and  of  our 
common  public  interests. 
The  vote  was  as  follows  : 

Ayes — Maine  2^,  New  Hampshire  5,  Vermont  I5,  Massachusetts 
8,  Connecticut  2^,  New  Jersey  4,  Pennsylvania  17,  Delaware  2,  Mary- 
land 65,  Virginia  14,  North  Carolina  9,  Arkansas  d,  Missouri  5,  Ten- 
nes.see  10,  Kentucky  10,  Minnesota  I5,  California  4,  Oregon  3 — lOOj. 
Nays — Maine  5^,  New  Hampshire  4^,  Vermont  3|,  Massachusetts 
5,  Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  3^,  New  York  35,  New  Jersey  3, 
Penn.sylvani'i  10,  Maryland  2.1,  Virginia  1,  North  Carolina  1,  Arkan- 
sas ^,  Missouri  4,  Tennessee  1,  Kentucky  2,  Ohio  23,  Indiana  13, 
Illinois  11,  Michigan  G,  Wisconsin  5,  Iowa  4,  Minnesota  2.i — loO. 

While  the  States  were  called  on  this  vote,  there  was  the  most  pro- 
found and  .solemn  silence.  The  decisive  vote  of  New  York  was  given 
promptly,  and  caused  a  fluttering,  as  it  was  known  to  decide  the  result 
of  the  contest  at  that  point. 

The  resolutions  of  the  regular  report  of  the  committee  were  now 
reported  and  read  by  the  Secretary  in  their  order. 

The  vote  was  then  taken  on  the  first  resolution  admitting  the  regular 
delegation  from  Mississippi,  and  it  was  adopted  by  ayes  250,  nays  2^. 
The  nays  were,  Pennsylvania  2,  Iowa  ^. 


189 

Mr.  Rynders  of  New  York — Mississippi  having  been  admitted,  I  ask 
if  she  is  not  entitled  now  to  vote  ? 

Mr.  Cochrane  of  New  York  said  that  until  the  last  branch  of  the 
resolutions  had  been  disposed  of  the  whole  question  had  not  been  put 
and  determined. 

The  vote  was  then  taken  on  the  second  resolution,  admitting  the 
Louisiana  contestants,  and  it  was  adopted  by  yeas  153,  nays  98,  as 
follows : 

Yeas — Maine  5i,  New  Hampshire  4^,  Vermont  3-^.  Massachusetts 
5,  Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  3^,  NewTork  35,  New  Jersey  2^, 
Pennsylvania  10,  Maryland  2|,  Virginia  1,  North  Carolina  2.  Arkan- 
sas I,  Mis.>-ouri  4,  Tennessee  2,  Kentucky  2,  Ohio  23,  Indiana  13, 
Illinois  11,  Michigan  6,  Wisconsin  5,  Iowa  4,  Minnesota  2^ — 153. 

Nays — Maine,  2§,  New  Hampshire  ^,  Vermont  i,  Massachusetts  8, 
Connecticut  2^,  New  Jersey  4|,  Pennsylvania  17,  Delaware  2,  Mary- 
land 51'  Virginia  13,  North  Carolina  8,  Arkansas  i,  Missouri  5,  Ten- 
nessee 10,   Kentucky  10,   Minnesota  I2,  California  4,  Oregon  3 — 98. 

There  was  no  longer  any  doubt  about  the  disruption  of  the  Conven- 
tion. It  was  merely  a  question  of  time,  and  the  time  short.  Some  of 
the  delegates  seemed  singularly  pleased ;  their  good  humor  was  admira- 
ble. Others  took  it  hard,  and  pursed  up  their  brows,  twisted  their 
mouths  in  the  firmest  possible  attitude,  and  looked  at  once  fierce  and 
sad.  Dean  Richmond  was  the  pivotal  personage.  There  was  not  a 
minute  but  some  one  was  whispering  in  his  ear.  Peter  Cagger  found 
something  funny  all  the  while,  and  laughed  until  his  face  was  red  as  the 
heart  of  a  beet. 

The  vote  having  been  declared  in  the  Louisiana  case,  the  third  reso- 
lution was  read  as  follows  : 

Resolved,  That  R.  W.  Johnson,  T.  C.  Hindman,  J.  P.  Johnson.  De  Roscy  Car- 
roll, J.  Gould,  F.  W.  Hoadiey  aud  John  A.  Jordan  be  admitted  to  seats  a.s  dele- 
gates from  the  State  of  Arkansas,  with  power  to  cast  hco  votes,  and  that  Thomas 
H.  Bradley.  M.  Hooper  and  D.  C.  Cross  be  also  admitted  to  scats  as  delegat(>s 
from  the  same  State,  with  power  to  cast  one  vote  ;  and  in  case  either  portion  of 
said  delegates  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  tai<e  their  said  seats  or  to  cast  their  said 
votes,  the  other  portion  of  said  delegates  taking  seats  in  this  Convention  shall 
be  entitled  to  cast  the  entire  three  votes  of  said  State. 

The  question  was  then  taken  on  the  first  part  of  the  resolution,  ad- 
mitting R.  W.  Johnson  and  five  others  of  Arkansas,  to  seats  in  the 
Convention,  with  power  to  cast  two  votes,  and  it  was  adopted  by  yeas 
182,  nays  t)9,  as  follows  : 

Yeas — Maine  5^  New  Hampshire  5,  Vermont  5,  Massachusetts  13, 
Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  G,  New  York  35,  New  Jersey  7,  Penn- 
sylvania 10,  Delaware  2,  Maryland  2|,  North  Carolina  1,  Mi.ssouri  9, 
Tennes.see  IH,  Ohio  23,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11,  Michigan  G,  Wiscon- 
sin 5,  Iowa  3^,  Minnesota  4 — 182. 

Nays — Maine  2i,  Pennsylvania  17,  Maryland  5|,  Virginia  15, 
North  Carolina  9,  Tennessee  1^,  Kentucky  12,  Iowa  1^,  California  4, 
Oregon  3— G9. 

The  vote  was  then  taken  on  the  second  branch  of  the  resolution,  and 
resulted  ayes  150,  nays  100^,  as  follows  : 


190 

Yeas — Maine  63,  New  Ilamps-hire  5,  Vermont  4i,  Mapsachu.eetts  5, 
Rhode  Inland  4,  Connecticut  3^,  New  Yurk  35,  New  Jersey  2.i,  Penn- 
sylvania 10,  Maryland  2,  Virginia  1,  North  Carolina  1,  Mitisnuri  4, 
Tennes.«*ee  5,  Kentucky  2,  Ohio  23,  Indiana  12,  Illinois  11,  Michigan 
6,  Wi.-con.-in  0,  Iowa  4.  Minnesota  2i  — 150. 

Nays — Maine  2?,  Vermont  ^,  Mastiachusetts  8,  Connecticut  2-|, 
New  Jersey  4^,  Pennsylvania  17,  Delaware  2.  Maryland  0,  ^'i^ginia 
14,  North  Carolina  9,  Missouri  5,  Tmnessee  11,  Kentucky  10,  Min- 
nesota i,  California  4,  Oregon  3 — 100^. 

Arkansas  declined  to  vot^. 

The  remainder  of  the  resolution  was  adopted  without  a  vote  by 
States. 

The  4th  resolution  was  read,  which  is  as  follows : 

Resolfed,  That  Guy  M.  Bryan.  F.  R.  Lubbock.  F.  P.  Stockdale.  E.  Grocr.  IT.  R. 
Runnel.-^.  Tlio.-*.  P.  Ochiltree.  M.  W.  Covi  y.  Wm.  II.  Pardons.  R.  Ward.  J.  F. 
Crosby,  II.  Burrows  and  Van  H.  Manning  are  entitled  to  seats  as  delej^ates  from 
Texas. 

The  resolution  was  agreed  to — yeas  250,  nays  2^. 
The  5th  resolution  was  read  as  follows : 

Retolved,  That  James  A.  Bayard  and  Wm.  G.  Whiteley  are  entitled  to  seats 
from  the  county  of  New  Castle,  Del. 

It  was  adopted. 

The  6th  resolution  was  then  read,  as  follows : 

Resolved,  That  R.  L.  ChaflFee,  who  was  duly  admitted  at  Charleston  as  a  dele- 
gate Irom  the  Fifth  Congressional  District  of  Ma.-isaehusetts.  is  still  entitled  to 
said  seat  in  this  Convention,  and  that  Benjamin  F.  Hallett,  who  has  assumed 
said  seat,  is  not  entitled  thereto. 

The  question  being  taken  upon  this  resolution  by  States,  it  resulted 
— yeas  138,  nays  112^ — as  follows: 

Ykas — Maine  bk,  New  Hamp.shire  2^,  Vermont  3,  Massachu.setts  3, 
Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  3^,  New  York  35,  New  Jersey  1^,  Penn- 
sylvania U^,  Maryland  21,  Missouri  4,  Ohio  23,  Itidiana  13,  iliinoia 
11,  Michigan  0,  Wisconsin  5,  Iowa  3|,  IMinnesota  2.5 — 138. 

Nays — Maine  25,  New  Hampshire  2|,  A'eriiiont  2,  Massachusetts 
8^.  Connecticut  2^,  New(  Jersey  4^,  Penn.«ylvania  ITd,  Delaware  2, 
Maryland  5^,  Virginia  15,  North  Carolina  10,  Arkansas  1,  Mis.-ouri 
5,  Tennessee  12,  Kentucky  12,  Iowa  1^,  Minnesota  1^,  California  4, 
Oregon  3—112-^. 

Tiie  resolution  was  accordingly  adopted. 

Mr.  Stuart  of  Michigan — I  move  to  reconsider  the  vote  just  taken, 
and  to  lay  that  motion  upon  the  table. 

The  Presiilent — The  chair  will  receive  and  enter  the  motion,  to  be 
disposed  of  at  a  future  time. 

Mr.  Stuart — I  make  the  same  motions  upon  each  of  the  other  votes 
that  have  preceded,  including  the  vote  upon  the  minority  report,  in  or- 
der that  the  motions  may  be  entered  as  distinct  motions. 

The  President — The   chair  receives  the  motions  to  reconsider  and  to 


19! 

lay  on  the  table,  and  the  Secretary  will  enter  thein,  and  note  the  propo- 
sitions to  which  they  apply. 

The  7th  resolution  was  then  read,  as  follows : 

7.  Resolved,  That  John  O'Fallon,  Jr.,  who  was  duly  admitted  at  Charloston  as 
a  delogate  from  the  Eighth  Congressional  District  of  Missouri,  is  still  entitled 
to  said  seat  in  this  Convention ;  and  that  John  B.  Clardy,  who  has  assumed 
said  scat,  is  not  entitled  thereto. 

The  question  being  then  taken  by  States  upon  the  resolution,  it  re- 
sulted— yeas  1381,  nays  112 — as  follows: 

Yeas — Maine  65,  New  Hampshire  2|,  Vermont  3,  Massachusetts  5, 
Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  3d,  New  York  35,  New  Jersey  1^.  Penn- 
sylvania 10,  Maryland  2i,  Arkansas  5,  Missouri  I5,  Ohio  23,  Indiana 
13.  Illinois  11,  Michigan  6,  Wisconsin  5,  Iowa  3^,  Minnesota  24 — 
138^. 

Nats — Maine  2^,  New  Hampshire  2^,  Vermont  2,  Massachusetts  8, 
Connecticut  2d,  New  Jersey  bl,  Penn.sylvania  17,  Delaware  2,  Mary- 
land b\,  Virginia  15,  North  Carolina  10,  Arkansas  H,  Missouri  6, 
Tennessee  12,  Kentucky  12,  Iowa  1^,  Minnesota  1^,  California  4,  Or- 
egon 3 — 112. 

The  resolution  was  accordingly  adopted. 

Mr.  Cessna  of  Pennsylvania  moved  that  the  vote  just  taken  be  re- 
considered, and  that  the  motion  to  reconsider  be  laid  upon  the  table. 

The  motion  was  received  and  ordered  to  be  entered  upon  the  journal. 

The  8th  resolution  was  then  read,  as  follows  : 

8.  Revived.  That  R.  A.  Barker,  D.  C.  Humphrey.  John  Forsyth,  Wm.  Garrett, 
J.  J.  Seivels,  S.  C.  Posey,  L.  E.  Parsons,  Joseph  C.  Bradley.  Thomas  B.  Cooper, 
James  Williams,  O.  H.  Byuura,  Samuel  W.  Wheatley.  L.  V.  B.  Martin,  John  W. 
Wanack.  W.  R.  R.  Wyatt.  Benjamin  Harrison,  Thomas  M.  Mathews  and  Nor- 
ment  McLeod,  are  entitled  to  seats  in  this  Conveutioa  as  delegates  from  the 
Stale  of  Alabama. 

The  question  being  then  taken  by  States  upon  this  resolution,  it  re- 
sulted— yeas  148^,  nays  lOl^ — as  follows: 

Yeas — Maine  5i,  New  Hampshire  2|,  Vermont  4J-,  Massachusetts  5, 
Rho  le  Island  4,  Connecticut  3i,  New  York  35,  New  Jersey  3,  Penn- 
sylvania 10,  Maryland  2,  Virginia  i,  North  Carolina  H,  Arkansas  i, 
Missouri  4,  Tennesssee  2,  Kentucky  1^,  Ohio  23,  Indiana  13,  Illinois 
11,  Micliigan  6,  Wisconsin  5,  Iowa  4,  Minnesota  2| — 148i. 

Navs — Maine  2^,  New  Hampshire  2,  Vermont  ^,  Massachusetts  8, 
Connecticut  2i,  New  Jersey  4,  Pennsylvania  17,  Delaware  2,  Mary- 
land G,  Virginia  14^,  North  Carolina  8^,  Arkansas  \,  Missouri  5, 
Tennessee  10,  Kentucky  10J-,  Minnesota  1^,  California  4,  Oregon  3 
— lOU. 

New  Hampshire  \  declined  voting. 

The  resolution  was  accordingly  adopted. 

Mr.  Cessna  of  Pennsylvania  moved  to  reconsider  the  vote  just  taken, 
and  that  that  motion  be  laid  upon  the  table. 

The  motion  was  received  and  ordered  to  be  entered  upon  the  journal. 

The  9th  and  last  resolution  of  the  series  was  then  read,  as  follows: 

9.  Resolved,  That  the  delegation  from  the  State  of  Georgia,  of  which  U.  L. 


192 

Bonniiig  is  cliairmau,  hi-  admitted  to  the  Convontion,  with  power  to  cast  one- 
half  of  the  vote  of  said  State  ;  and  that  the  delef^ation  from  said  State,  of  which 
Col.  Cardiier  is  cliainnaii,  be  also  admitted  to  the  Convention,  with  powur  to 
cast  oni'-half  of  the  vote  of  said  State,  and  if  cither  of  said  delefrations  refuse 
or  nc{rlect  to  cast  the  vote  as  aliovc  indicated,  that  in  such  case  the  delegates 
prenent  in  the  Couveutiou  be  authorized  to  cast  the  full  vule  of  said  State. 

There  was  a  contest  as  to  whether  this  resolution  was  divisible.  The 
chair  rulcil  that  it  was  divisible. 

Mr.  Atkins  of  Tennessee — I  trust  the  Convention  will  proceed  to 
consummate  its  work.  [Applause.]  We  have  nearly  completed  this 
work,  and  I  hope  that  no  gentleman  opposed  to  these  resolutions  will 
interpose  any  thing  to  delay  the  work  of  this  Convention.  [Applause 
and  hisses.]    The  man  that  hisses  is  a  viper  and  a  coward.     [Applause.] 

Mr.  Seward  of  Georgia  attempted  to  obtain  the  floor,  and  presented  a  let- 
ter which  he  wished  read.     Objections  were  made  and  it  was  not  read. 

[It  was  understood  that  the  letter  was  from  Col.  Gardner,  the  chair- 
man of  the  contesting  delegation  from  the  State  of  Georgia,  notifying 
the  Convention  that  they  withdrew  from  all  further  contest.] 

Mr.  Jones  of  Tennessee — At  the  request  of  several  gentlemen  I 
withdraw  my  call  for  a  division  of  the  question. 

The  President  stated  the  question  to  be  upon  agreeing  to  the  entire 
resolution,  as  originally  reported  by  the  Secretary  to  the  Convention. 

The  question  being  then  taken  by  States  upon  the  resolution,  it  was 
rejected — yeas  lOG^,  nays  145 — as  follows  : 

Yeas — Maine  4,  New  Hampshire  2,  Vermont  3^,  Massachusetts  5, 
Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  3|,  New  Jersey  2,  Pennsylvania  9^, 
Maryland  2,  Virginia  1,  North  Carolina  1,  Arkansas  h,  Missouri  4, 
Ohio  2o,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11.  Michigan  6,  Wisconsin  5,  Iowa  4, 
Minnesota  2| — lOG^. 

Nays — Maine  4,  New  Hampshire  3,  Vermont  H,  Massachusetts  8, 
Connecticut  85,  New  York  35,  New  Jersey  5,  Pennsylvania  17^,  Del- 
aware 2,  Maryland  G,  Virginia  14,  North  Carolina  9,  Arkansas  ^,  Mis- 
souri 5,  Tennessee  12,  Kentucky  lid,  Minnesota  1^,  California  4, 
Oregon  3 — 145. 

During  all  this  voting  the  Convention  was  strangely  silent.  "  Not  a 
drum  was  heard,  nor  a  funeral  note."  There  was  not  a  rattle  of  ap- 
plause nor  a  hiss  for  an  hour  and  a  half. 

The  vote  of  New  York — "thirty-five  no,"  in  the  case  of  Georgia, 
caused  a  buzz  of  astonishment. 

Mr.  Church  of  New  York  said  his  delegation  had  no  opportunity  to 
vote  on  the  admission  of  delegates  from  Georgia,  as  they  deemed  right, 
and  tliey  now  proposed  to  make  a  motion  that  the  delegates  from  Geor- 
gia, of  which  Mr.  II.  L.  13enning  is  chairman,  be  admitted  to  seats  in 
the  Convention. 

Mr.  Hallett  of  Massachusetts  (author  of  the  Cincinnati  Platform) 
got  the  floor  and  made  a  speech,  though  Stuart  of  IMichigan  raised 
points  of  order  on  him.  The  parliamentary  contest  was  highly  interest- 
ing. Mr.  Hallett  had,  however,  voted  with  the  majority  on  the  ninth 
proposition,  and  had  moved  to  reconsider.  In  the  midst  of  the  confu- 
sion, the  main  question  wss  put  on  the  resolution  admitting  the  delega- 


193 

tjon,  of  which  Mr.  Benning  of  Georgia  was  chairman,  to  seats,  and  it 
was  adopted. 

Mr.  Hallett  was  again  recognized  on  the  floor,  and  made  his  speech, 
explaining  the  circumstances  of  the  contest  for  his  seat.  He  entered 
into  the  general  subject,  saying : 

And  you  are  now  upon  the  eve  of  what  ?  After  having  severed  your 
Convention  from  eight  of  the  Southern  States,  you  are  now  upon  the 
very  verge — are  about  to  consummate  that  blow — which  shall  send  out 
the  other  six  or  seven  States,  and  then  what  is  this  Convention  ?  Nay, 
what  is  the  great  Democratic  party  of  this  Union  ?  Nay,  in  God'& 
name,  what  is  the  Union  itself? 

He  appealed  to  New  York  to  come  forward  and  save  the  country. 
He  said : 

When  the  great  question  is,  shall  you  have  any  Union  to  which  we  can 
give  a  President,  and  shall  you  have  any  Democratic  party  to  elect  a 
President,  why  not  then  come  forward,  young  men,  and  sustain  this 
measure  of  reconciliation  and  sustain  the  Union?  Let  it  not  be  broken 
up.  I  say  to  you  this  is  no  light  matter.  I  say  to  you  the  impending 
crisis  is  only  the  more  awful  because  it  is  silent.  It  is  hushed,  it  is 
true,  but  it  is  here  all  around  me.  You  know,  sir,  every  honorable  man 
knows,  that  if  the  resolutions  of  that  committee  which  1  am  now  desir- 
ing to  be  reconsidered  prevail  in  this  Convention,  that  you  have  a  dis- 
severed Convention.  The  States  that  are  standing  knocking  at  your 
doors  will  never  come  in  and  pass  under  the  yoke.  Southern  chivalry 
will  prevent  that.  [Applause.]  The  States  that  are  here  now  will  ad- 
here to  the  Democratic  Union,  or  they  will  adhere  to  their  own  South. 
They  will  never  stay  here  to  the  disgrace  of  their  brother  States  outside. 
[Applause.] 

And  then  what  will  you  do?  Make  a  nomination? — a  nomination 
which,  tendered  to  any  man,  is  but  the  ruin  of  that  man,  and  the  ruin 
of  that  party  which  desires  it.  I  stand  here  to-day  a  personal  friend 
of  the  man  whose  friends  are  about  to  sacrifice  him,  as  I  view  it. 
[Laughter  and  applause.]  Ah,  I  would  rather  see  him  elevated  to  the 
Presidency  than  any  other  man  in  this  Union,  if  it  could  be  done  with- 
out the  destruction  of  this  party — without  the  dissolution  of  this  Con- 
vention. But  no — men  here  say,  let  us  have  this  man  or  none;  we 
will  have  no  other  but  him.  Where  is  the  discriminating  justice  which 
shall  impel  you  to  the  adjustment  of  this  great  question  ? 

Mr.  Hallett  moved  that  the  Convention  take  a  recess  until  five  o'clock. 

Mr.  Stuart  of  Michigan  moved  to  lay  the  motions  to  reconsider  upon 
the  table.  This  was  a  movement  to  consummate  the  action  of  the  Con- 
vention on  the  report  from  the  committee  on  Credentials. 

Mr.  Kussell,  chairman  of  the  Virginia  delegation — Mr.  President,  I 
wish,  before  the  Convention  adjourns,  to  make  an  announcement  in  be- 
half of  the  Virginia  delegation.  I  wish  to  do  it  at  the  proper  time. 
[Sensation.] 

This  was  the  announcement  of  Virginia  that  she  was  about  to  lead 
the  column  of  the  new  secession. 

A  motion,  that  when  the  Convention  adjourn  it  be  to  meet  at  five 

13 


194 

o'clofk  in  the  afternoon,  was  put,  the  vote  taken  hy  States,  and  lost — 
yeas  8*2 1,  nays  IGS. 

Air.  Cessna  of  Pennsylvania  cjilled  up  the  peveral  motions  to  recon- 
sider, with  the  aeciiin[ian_viiig  motions  to  hiy  on  the  tahle. 

The  President  ttated  the  first  question  to  be  upon  laying  upon  the 
table  the  motion  to  recon>iiJer  the  vote  by  which  the  Conveiiti<in  refused 
to  substitute  the  resolutions  reported  by  the  minority  of  the  committee 
on  Credentials  for  those  reported  by  the  majority  of  said  committee. 

Upon  this  question  the  State  of  Tennessee  demanded  a  vote  by  States, 
which  was  ordered. 

Tlie  question  being  then  taken  by  States,  the  motion  to  lay  on  the 
table  was  not  agreed  to — yeas  ll3.i,  nays  138^ — as  follows  : 

Ykas — !Maine  5;r,  New  Hampshire  3,  Vermont  4^.  Massachusetta  5, 
Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  3^,  New  Jersey  3d.  i'eiinsylvania  10, 
Maryland  '1,  North  Carolina  1,  Arkansas  ^,  Jlissouri  4^,  Kentucky  2, 
Ohio  23.  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11,  Michigan  G,  Wisconsin  5,  Iowa  4, 
Minnesota  2J— 11 3f 

Navs — Maine  2^,  New  Hampshire  2,  Vermont  ^,  Massachusetts  8, 
Connecticut  2^-,  New  York  35,  New  .Jersey  3i,  Pennsylvania  17,  Del- 
aware 2,  Maryland  6,  Virginia  15,  North  Carolina  9,  Arkansas  j,  Mis- 
souri 4^,  Tennessee  12,  Kentucky  10,  Minnesota  ll,  California  4, 
Oregon  3 — 1385. 

And  so  at  the  last  moment  New  York  flinched  from  the  consumma- 
tion of  the  work  preparatory  to  the  division  of  the  Convention.  Her 
vote,  cast  in  the  negative  on  this  ballot,  left  the  question  8till  open,  that 
is,  the  action  taken  by  the  Convention  might  be  reconsidered.  There 
was  an  intense  sensation  in  the  Convention,  and  a  recess  until  seven 
o'clock  in  the  evening  was  immediately  taken. 

Durin"'  this  recess,  the  intere.-t  of  the  thousands  of  politicians  con- 
centrated in  Baltimore,  and  indeed  of  the  whole  country  within 
reach  of  the  telegraph,  was  wrought  up  to  the  highest  pitch.  The 
New  York  delegation  was  denounced  on  every  side  as  composed  of 
tricksters  and  bargainers.  The  friends  of  Douglas  lost  faith  in  them, 
and  emulated  the  Southerners  in  showering  epithets  upon  them. 

A  rumor  of  a  i!e>patch  f  oiu  Djuglas  to  Dean  Richmond,  virtually 
withdrawing  his  name,  leaked  out.  Its  existence  was  fiercely  denied 
by  the  straight  Douglas  n)cn.  Richard.son  was  very  enijihaiic  in  say- 
ing there  was  not  one  word  of  truth  in  the  report;  and  many  disbe- 
lieved it,  because  they  believed  Richaidson  to  be  the  only  medium 
throuo'h  which  Douglas  would  communicate  with  the  Convention. 
Friends  of  Richardson  said  it  would  be  a  personal  insult  to  him,  if 
Douglas  should  despatch  to  Dean  Richmond.  There  w;is  a  despatch, 
however,  as  afterward  appeared.     It  was  as  follows  : 

Was  ii\(;tox  J  ine  22d— 9*  A.  M. 
To  Dkav  RicuMONn.  Chairman  of  Delpjration,  Hiiltiniore  : 

The  sloadi  I'ss  with  which  Now  York  ha>i  sustained  mi-  will  justify  a  word  of 
connpel.  The  safety  of  the  cause  is  the  paramount  duty  of  every  PeininMat. 
The  unity  of  Ih'- p.irty  and  the  niainteimiu'e  ot  its  principles  in\iolale  uninore 
import.uil  than  the  election  or  d(  ti  at  of  any  iinlividnal.  If  my  en.  uiii  s  are 
determined  to  divide  and  destroy  the  I)im(niatic  party,  and.  perhaps,  the  coun- 
try, rather  than  ece  me  elected,  and  if  the  unity  of  the  parly  can  l>c  preserved, 


195 

and  its  apcendancy  pprpetnated  by  dropping  my  name  and  uniting  upon  Fome 
other  reliable  Non-intervoiitiou  and  Uiiion-lovini;-  Democrat,  I  b(W(ch  yon.  in 
consnUation  with  our  friends,  to  pursue  that  course  which  will  save  the  party 
and  the  country,  without  regard  to  my  individual  interests.  I  mean  all  this  let- 
ter implies.     Consult  freely  and  act  boldly  for  the  right. 

(Signud)  S.  A.  DOUGLAS. 

It  would  appear  that  this  was  sent  to  Richmond,  because  a  letter  con- 
taining similar  suggestions,  had  been  forwarded  to  Rich;irdf-on,  who  kept 
it  ia  Ills  pocket.  Douglas  finding  that  Richardson  would  not  commu- 
nicate his  wish  to  withdraw  to  the  Convention,  telegraphed  to  Richmond, 
who  suppressed  the  despatch,  as  Richardson  had  suppressed  the  letter. 

It  was  asserted  in  Baltimore,  and  believed  in  political  circles,  that 
during  this  recess  New  York  offered  to  reconsider  her  vote  on  the  Lou- 
isiana case,  and  make  up  the  Convention  out  of  the  original  materials, 
with  the  exception  of  the  Alabama  delegation.  They  could  not  a"-ree 
to  admit  Yancey  &  Co.  But  the  seceders  and  their  friends  would  not 
hear  to  any  such  proposition.  They  scorned  all  compromise,  assuming 
that  their  rights  were  undoubted  and  their  title  clear;  they  would  not 
bargain  away  any  portion  whatever  of  their  claims. 

EVENING    SESSION. 

The  long  looked-for  "  Crisis  "  a  hundred  times  postponed,  arrived  at 
last.  The  Convention  was  called  to  order  a  few  minutes  after  seven 
o'clock. 

The  President  stated  the  pending  question  to  be  upon  reconsiderin* 
the  vote  hy  which  the  Convention  refused  to  substitute  the  resolutions 
submitted  upon  the  part  of  the  minority  of  the  commitfee  on  Creden- 
tials in  place  of  the  resolutions  submitted  by  the  majority  of  said  com- 
mittee. 

The  question  being  taken  by  States,  the  motion  to  reconsider  was  not 
agreed  to — yeas  113,  nays  139 — as  follows: 

Yeas — Maine  2^,  New  Hampshire  2,  Vermont  1,  Massachusetts  8 
Connecticut  2|^,  New  Jersey  4^.  Pennsylvania  17,  Delaware  2,  Mary- 
land 6.  Virginia  15,  North   Carolina  9,  Arkansas  i,  Missouri  4^,  Ten- 
nessee 10,  Kentucky  10,  Minnesota  H,  California  4,  Oregon   3—113. 

Nays — Maine  5^,  New  Hampshire  3.  Vermont  4,  Massachusetts  5, 
Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  3^,  New  Yoik  35,  New  Jersey  2^,  Penn- 
sylvania 10,  Maryland  2,  North  Carolina  1,  Arkan.sas  ^,  j\Iissouri  4i-, 
Tennessee  2,  Kentucky  2.  Ohio  23,  Indiapa  13,  Illinois  11,  Michio-an 
6,  Wisctmsin  5,  Iowa  4,  Minnesota  2^, — 139. 

New  York's  "Thirty  five  votes  no"  given  in  the  quick  sharp  tones 
of  Peter  Cugger,  settled  this  as  all  other  con'ested  questions.  The 
motions  to  reconsider  the  votes  by  which  the  resolutions  of  the  m.-ijority 
report  had  been  adopted,  and  to  lay  those  motions  on  the  table,  were 
now  in  order.  Upon  those  motions  being  carried  the  action  in  each 
case  was  final  and  irrevocable. 

.The  motion  to  lay  on  the  table  the  mofinn  to  reconsider  the  vote  by 
which  the  Convention  adopted  the  resolution  of  the  maj  -rity  report  of 
the  committee,  onthe  State  of  Mississippi,  was  carried  without  a  divis- 
ion. 


196 

The  next  qucsHon  was  upon  the  motion  to  lay  aj)on  the  table  the 
motion  to  reconsider  the  vote  by  which  the  Convention  adoptee]  the 
majority  resolution  in  relation  to  delegates  from  Loui.«iana. 

The  question  beinj;;  taken  by  States,  the  motion  to  lay  on  the  table 
was  agreed  to — ^yeas  150^.  nays  99 — as  follows  : 

Yeas — Maine  5^,  New  Hampshire  4^,  Vermont  4j,  Massachusetts  5, 
Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  3i,  New  York  35,  New  Jersey  2^,  Penn- 
sylvania 10,  Maryland  2,  North  Carolina  1,  Arkansas  i,  Missouri  4, 
Tennessee  2,  Kentucky  2,  Ohio  23,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11,  Michigan 
(i,  Wisconsin  5,  Iowa  4,  Minnesota  2| — 150^. 

Nays — Maine  2^,  New  Hampshire  H,  Vermont  i,  Massachusetts  8, 
Connecticut  2^,  New  Jersey  4J-,  Pennsylvania  17,  Delaware  2,  Mary- 
land 6,  Virginia  15,  North  Carolina  8i,  Arkansas  li,  Missouri  4i, 
Tennessee  10,  Kentucky  10,  Minnesota  H,  California  4,  Oregon  3 — 
99. 

The  next  question  was  upon  laying  upon  the  table  the  motion  to  re- 
consider the  vote  by  which  the  Convention  adopted  the  majority  resolu- 
tion in  relation  to  delegates  from  Arkansas. 

The  question  being  taken,  the  motion  was  agreed  to. 

The  next  question  was  upon  same  motion  in  relation  to  Texas. 

The  question  being  taken,  the  motion  to  reconsider  was  laid  upon 
the  table. 

The  next  question  was  upon  the  same  motion  in  relation  to  Delaware, 
and  the  motion  to  lay  upon  the  table  was  agreed  to. 

The  same  with  regard  to  the  resolution  in  relation  to  Massachusetts, 
and  the  resolution  in  relation  to  Missouri. 

The  next  question  was  upon  the  motion  to  lay  upon  the  table  the 
motion  to  reconsider  the  vote  upon  the  resolution  in  relation  to  Ala- 
bama— the  motion  was  agreed  to. 

The  same  with  regard  to  the  vote  of  the  Convention,  rejecting  the 
resolution  of  the  majority  in  relation  to  Georgia. 

The  same  with  regard  to  the  resolution  of  Mr.  Church  of  New  York, 
admitting  original  delegation  from  Georgia. 

Mr  Cessna  of  Pennsylvania — I  now  offer  the  following  resolution  : 

Rfjtdmd,  Tliat  this  Coiivontion  do  now  proceed  to  nominate  candidates  for 
['resident  and  Vico-President  of  the  United  States, 

And  on  that  resolution  I  call  the  previous  question. 

Mr.  Stansbury  of  Maryland  moved  to  adjourn  sine  die. 

Mr.  McKibben  of  Pennsylvania  seconded  the  motion.  New  York 
demanded  a  vote  by  States.     The  motion  was  withdrawn. 

Mr.  Russell  of  Virginia  had  been  for  some  time  standing,  very  pale, 
nervous  and  solemn,  in  his  chair,  and  now  obtained  the  ear  of  the  chair 
and  the  Convention,  and  desired  to  make  an  "  announcement."  Mr. 
Gorman  of  Minnesota  objected  to  the  gentleman's  proceeding,  and 
emphatically  refused  to  withdraw  his  objection.  The  President  dc>ired 
to  hear  what  proposition  it  was  that  the  gentleman  from  Virginia  had 
to  make.     Mr.  Russell  at  length  said  : 

I  understand  that  the  action  of  this  Convention  upon  the  various 
questions  arising  out  of  the  reports  from  the  committee  on  Credentials, 


197 

bas  become  final,  complete  and  irrevocable  And  it  has  become  my 
duty  now,  by  direction  of  a  large  majority  of  the  delegation  from  Vir- 
ginia, respectfully  to  inform  this  body  tliat  it  is  inconsistent  with  their 
Convictions  of  duty  to  participate  longer  in  its  deliberations. 

There  was  a  mingled  din  of  applause  and  hisses,  cries  of  order,  of  a 
highly  sensational  character.  The  greater  tuinult,  so  far  as  the  galleries 
were  concerned,  seemed  to  be  that  of  approbation — the  Douglas  out- 
side pressure  having  for  some  days  subsided  rapidly.  The  chair  ordered 
the  galleries  cleared.  He  did  not,  however,  attempt  to  enforce  the  or- 
der.    The  di.sorder  lasted  some  minutes. 

Mr.  Russell  remained  standing,  and  when  his  voice  could  be  heard, 
said  that  all  of  the  delegates  to  whom  tickets  of  admission  had  been  is- 
sued, who  were  regarded  as  National  Democrats  by  the  Democracy  of 
Virginia,  would  refuse  to  enter  the  hall.  The  reasons  which  impelled 
the  representatives  of  the  State  of  Virginia  to  leave  the  Convention, 
would  be  rendered  to  the  Democracy  of  Virginia,  and  to  them  alone. 
The  Virginians,  with  a  few  exceptions,  when  Mr.  Russell  ceased  speak- 
ing, rose  in  a  body,  and  passing  into  the  aisles,  proceeded  to  leave  the 
theater,  shaking  hands  and  bidding  personal  friends  good  by,  as  they 
retired. 

Mr.  Moffatt,  one  of  those  who  remained,  commenced  a  speech,  but 
gave  way  to  Mr.  Lander  of  North  Carolina,  who  announced  that  eight 
out  of  the  ten  votes  of  that  State  retired.     He  said  : 

The  rights  of  sovereign  States  and  of  gentlemen  of  the  South,  have 
been  denied  by  a  majority  of  this  body.  We  cannot  act,  as  we  con- 
ceive, in  view  of  this  wrong. 

Mr.  Ewing  of  Tennessee  announced  that  ten  out  of  the  twelve  votes 
of  that  State  retired  to  consult.  He  spoke  of  the  disposition  of  the 
Tennessee  delegation  to  harmonize.  "  They  were  the  first,  when  the 
majority  platform  was  not  adopted,  to  seek  for  some  proposition  for 
compromise — something  that  would  enable  us  to  harmonize.  They  have 
a  candidate  that  was  dear  to  them.  They  cast  away  his  prospect  for 
the  sake  of  harmony.     They  have  yielded  all  that  they  can." 

Col.  Caldwell,  chairman  of  the  Kentucky  delegation,  asked  leave  to 
retire  to  consult.  Mr.  Stuart  of  Michigan  objected,  for  the  reason  that 
business  could  not  be  transacted  while  a  State  was  absent  by  permis- 
sion of  the  Convention.  It  being  understood  that  the  delegation 
wished  to  retire  but  for  a  few  minutes,  Mr.  Stuart  withdrew  bis  ob- 
jection. 

Mr.  McKibben — Mr.  President,  I  want  to  understand  if  the  gentle- 
man from  Michigan  is  the  manager  of  the  theatre  ?     [Laughter.] 

[The  point  of  this  inquiry  was  the  fact  that  the  Duuglas  men  fol- 
lowed implicitly  the  directions  and  suggestions  of  Mr.  Stuart,  who  was 
so  sharp  a  parliamentarian  and  adroit  manager,  that  even  the  chairman 
(Cushing)  was  believed  to  regard  him  with  something  of  dread.  It  is 
certain  that  Mr.  Cushing  always  gave  attention  to  Mr.  Stuart,  and 
usually  yielded  to  him  on  contested  points.  Mr.  Stuart's  points  of  or- 
der were  almost  always  admirably  taken.] 

Mr.  Johnson  of  Maryland  made  a  speech  withdrawing  half  the  dele- 
gation from  that  State.     He  said  : 


Id8 

Wo  have  made  all  sacrifices  for  the  grand  old  DetDOcratic  party, 
whose  iiii.<,sion  it  has  been  to  preserve  the  Coiibtitution  and  to  care  for 
the  llepulilic  for  more  than  sixty  years,  until  it  now  seems  as  if  you 
were.goiricf  to  substitute  a  man  in  the  place  of  principle.  [Calls  to  or- 
der.] I  desire  to  be  respectful.  I  desire  to  say  that  the  action  of  the 
majority  of  the  late  Convention — a  majority  created  by  the  operation  of 
a  technical  unit  rule  imposed  upon  the  Convention,  contrary  to  Demo- 
cratic piecedent  and  u.>-age — States  have  been  disfranchised  and  dis- 
tricts deprived  of  their  rights,  until,  in  our  opinit<n,  it  is  no  longer  con- 
sibtent  with  our  honor  or  our  rights,  or  the  rights  of  our  constituents,  to 
remain  here. 

Mr.  Glass  of  Virginia  withdrew  himself  from  the  Convention. 

Mr.  Waterson  of  Tennessee,  one  of  the  delegates  from  that  State 
who  had  declined  to  secede,  said  there  were  some  gallant  spirits  from 
the  land  of  Jackson  who  would  remain.  He  had  no  fears  that  the  Con- 
vention would  refuse  to  indorse  the  Cincinnati  Platform. 

Mr.  Jones  of  Tennessee  hoped  that  the  delegates  of  that  State  who 
had  retired  to  consult,  would  find  their  way  back  into  the  Convention. 
Mr.  Jones  said  he  had  been  a  Democrat  ever  since  he  first  drew  milk 
from  his  mother's  breast. 

Mr.  Smith  of  California  said  : 

While  T  cannot  say  with  the  gentleman  from  Tennessee  (Mr.  Jones) 
that  my  Dimocracy  dates  back  to  that  time  of  which  I  have  no  recollec- 
tion, yet  I  can  say  that  it  is  as  unspotted  as  the  vault  of  heaven.  Cal- 
ifornia is  here  with  melancholy  faces.  [Laughter.]  California  is  here 
with  a  lacerated  heart,  bleeding  and  weeping  over  the  downfall  and  de- 
struction of  the  Democratic  party.  [Applause  and  laughter.]  Yes, 
sir,  the  destructioii  of  the  DtiUDcratlc  party,  consummated  by  assassins 
now  grinning  upon  this  floor.  [Loud  cries  of  "Order,"  "order,"  "Put 
him  out,"  and  great  ccnfu>ion.] 

Mr.  Smith,  "in  no  spirit  of  braggadocia,"  said  that  "if  any  one 
took  exceptions,  he  knew  his  remedy."     He  proceeded  : 

This  Convention  has  properly  been  held  in  a  theatre,  and  upon  that 
stat'e  a  play  has  been  enacted  this  evening  that  will  prove  a  tragedy  of 
which  the  Dcmo-ratic  p.irty  will  be  the  victim.  [Mingled  hisses  and 
applause.]  I  then  do  state  that  there  have  been  wrongs  perpetrated 
upon  the  Democracy  of  that  deep  and  damning  character  that  it  does 
not  permit  California  longer  to  participate  in  the  proceedings  of  this 
irregular  organizjition.  [Laughter.]  Irregular  I  and  why  irregular? 
Irregular  because  there  has  not  been  a  single  affirmative  propaMtion 
carried  through  this  body  that  has  not  been  ilone  through  a  resolution 
that  cannot  be  characterized  by  any  other  term  than  that  used  by  a  del- 
egate from  Illinois — atrick.  [Loud  cries  of  "Order,"  "order,"  and  great 
confusion.] 

Mr.  Merrick  of  Illinois  demanded  the  name  of  the  delegate  referred 
to  from  that  State,  and  what  he  saiil.  After  a  protracted  scene  of  con- 
fusion, Mr.  Smith  remarked  that  the  Convention  acted  very  much  like 
a  child  taking  medicine.      He  said  : 

I  will  repeat,  witlicut  the  fear  of  the  slightest  contradiction,  that  the 
resolutiuu  passed  at  Charleston,  known  as  tbo  "  Cessna  resolution,"  by 


199 

virtue  of  wbich  the  minority  of  this  Convention  have  been  enabled  to 
ca^t  the  majority  vote,  and  thus  beating  down  or  carrying  through  and 
enacting  every  measure  that  has  been  so  repulsive  to  the  delegates  who 
have  withdrawn — I  say  that  that  resolution  was  acknowledged  in  sub- 
stance to  me  to  be  a  deliberate,  willful,  premeditated  trick. 

This  was  received  with  roars  of  disorder.  There  was  wild  excite- 
ment, and  a  tempest  of  calls  to  order.  Mr.  Smith  yelled  that  he  would 
say  what  he  had  to  say,  and  the  Convention  should  hear  him.  Mr. 
Merrick  of  Illinois  was  upon  a  chair,  crying,  "  Name  the  delegate  from 
Illinois  " — "tell  us  what  he  said."  The  chair  declared  Smith  out  of 
order.  His  time  under  the  fifteen  minute  rule  had  expired.  He  in- 
sisted that  the  time  taken  up  in  interruptions  should  not  come  out  of  his 
time.  He  was  as  hard  to  choke  off  as  a  bull-dog,  but  all  the  Douglas 
men  in  the  house,  aided  by  the  Pre.sident,  succeeded  in  getting  him 
down,  when  he  retired  at  the  head  of  the  Oregon  delegation. 

Mr.  Stevens  of  Oregon  rose.  He  had  "  a  most  melancholy  duty  to 
perform."  He  had  not  allowed  his  feelings  to  get  the  better  of  his 
judgment.      He  concluded  by  saying  : 

We  did  hojie,  when  this  Convention  reassembled  at  Baltimore, 
that  it  would  bring  together  the  Democratic  party  in  every  sovereign 
State. 

We  find  ourselves  grievously  mistaken.  By  your  action  to-day, 
gentlemen  as  much  entitled  to  seats  as  ourselves,  in  our  opinion,  are 
excluded  from  the  floor.  We  do  not  mean  to  impugn  the  motives  of 
others,  but  are  conscious  that  a  most  grievous  wrong  and  insult  has  been 
given  to  sovereign  States.  These  States  are  the  weak  parties  m  this 
contest,  and  we  have  resolved  to  stand  by  them  and  assert  their  rights. 
I  now  announce  that  the  delegation  from  Oregon  have  come  to  the  con- 
clusion to  withdraw  from  the  deliberations  and  take  no  further  part  in 
them. 

Mr.  Moffat  of  Virginia,  who  had  sought  the  floor  for  some  time,  now 
obtained  it.  He  made  an  eloquent  speech,  saying  of  the  representa- 
tives of  Virginia — "  We  were  thirty  when  we  came  in — now  we  are  but 
five."  He  said  he  would  stand  by  that  Convention  through  weal  and 
through  woe.     He  said  : 

I  am  an  out-and-out  pro-slavery  man.  I  believe  in  the  institution  all 
the  time.  I  believe  it  is  right  morally,  socially  and  politically.  I  have 
fought  in  my  State  for  the  extension  of  pro-slavery  views.  I  am  a 
Southern  man,  and  interested  with  the  people  of  Virginia  in  having  pro- 
tection for  our  property.  I  ask  you  who  are  true  to  us  in  the  North, 
not  to  desert  us,  but  to  stand  by  and  defend  us  henceforth  as  you  have 
done  in  times  past  [voices,  "We'll  do  it,"],  and  so  help  me  God,  I 
will  defend  you  as  long  as  I  have  confidence  in  you.  [Loud  applause, 
and  cries  of  "Good,"  "  good."]     I  will  never  fight  my  friends. 

In  the  name  of  common  sense,  have  not  we  enough  of  higlicr  law, 
revolutionary,  abolition  scoundrels  in  the  North  to  fight,  without  fighting 
our  friends  V  [Applause.]  Must  we  fight  the  men  who  stond  on  the 
platforn)  at  Cincinnati  in  ISoC,  and  kick  them  off  and  break  up  the 
Democratic  party  ? 

Mr.  Davis  of  Virginia  made  a  speech.     lie  was  a  Henry  A.  Wise 


200 

man.  He  said  he  could  not  see  how  Judco  Pou;^las  could  be  the 
nominee  of  the  Convention.  He  came  to  Baltimore  t<i  try  to  yircvent  it, 
at  any  rate.  He  meant  to  fight  inside  the  Democratic  party.  He  be- 
lieved Gov.  Wise,  if  nominated,  could  carry  Virginia  by  30,000  votes. 
He  would  be  for  Wise  first,  last,  and  all  the  time,  if  he  were  permitted 
to  present  his  name,  but  he  was  not  so  authorized. 

Hero  a  motion  was  made  to  adjourn  and  a  vote  by  States  called  on  it. 
Ayes  18ri— nays  210.i. 

Mr.  Cessna  of  Pennsylvania — I  now  ask  the  chair  to  ascertain  from 
the  Convention  whether  or  not  there  is  a  second  to  my  demand  for  the 
previous  question  upon  the  resolution  to  proceed  to  ballot  for  candidates 
for  the  Presidency  and  Vice  Presidency. 

Mr.  Clark  of  Mis.souri  asked  permission  for  a  portion  of  the  delegation 
of  that  State  to  retire  and  consult.     He  also  asked  for  an  adjournment. 
Mr.  Cessna  of  Pennsylvania  was  willing   to  adjourn  when  the  previ- 
ous question  on  his  motion  should  be  seconded  and  the  maia  question 
ordered  to  be  now  put. 

After  some  consultation,  it  was  concluded  that  the  demand  for  the 
previous  question  had  been  seconded.  This  was  a  mistake,  but  it  made 
no  difference  as  it  was  received  as  authority  by  common  consent. 

Mr.  Craig  of  Missouri  said  he  was  not  willing  to  follow  his  distin- 
guished friend  Clark  out  of  a  Democratic  Convention.  Whereupon  Mr. 
Clark  announced  that  his  purpose  was  fixed  to  remain  in  the  Convention. 
Senator  Saulsbury  of  Delaware  was  instructed  by  the  delegation  of 
that  State  to  announce  that  they  desire  to  be  excused  from  voting  on  any 
further  ballots  or  votes,  unless  circumstances  should  alter  this  determi- 
nation. He  said  :  It  is  our  desire  to  be  left  free  to  act  or  not  act,  our 
desire  being  to  leave  the  question  open  for  the  consideration  of  our  con- 
stituents after  we  return  home. 

^Ir.  Gauldon  of  Georgia  made  his  Charleston  slave-trade  and  slave- 
breeding  speech  again.  He  announced  himself  a  slave  breeder.  He 
had  not  joined  his  fortunes  to  either  the  house  of  York  or  the  house  of 
Lanca.ster.     He  said  : 

I  have  felt  that  the  experiment  of  man  for  self-government  was  about 
to  prove  a  failure  here,  and  that  the  genius  of  liberty  was  about 
shrieking  to  leave  the  world. 

I  am  an  advocate  for  maintaining  the  integrity  of  the  National  Demo- 
cratic party  ;  I  belong  to  the  extreme  South  ;  I  am  a  pro  slavery  man  in 
every  sense  of  the  word,  aye,  and  an  African  slave-trade  man.  [Ap- 
plause and  laughter.]  This  institution  of  slavery,  as  I  have  said  else- 
where, has  done  more  to  advance  the  prosperity  and  intelligence  of  the 
white  race,  and  of  the  human  race,  than  all  else  together.  I  believe  it 
to  be  founded  upon  the  law  of  nature  and  upon  the  law  of  God  ;  I  be- 
lieve it  to  be  a  blessing  to  all  races.  I  believe  that  liberty  would  not 
truly  exist  in  this  Western  World  except  by  maintaining  the  integrity 
of  the  great  National  Democratic  party.      [.\pplau.>^e.] 

He  spoke  of  the  "  slave-breeding  and  slave-trading  State  of  Virginia," 
when  a  delegate  from  Virginia  called  him  to  order  for  cast  ng  an  impu- 
tation upon  the  State  of  V^irginia.  Gaulden  thought  he  had  been  pay- 
ing Virginia  a  high  compliment.     He  said : 


201 

Well,  I  will  say  the  slave-breeding  State  of  Georgia,  then.  I  glory 
in  being  a  slave-breeder  myself.  [Loud  laughter.]  I  will  face  the 
music  myself,  and  I  have  got  as  many  negroes  as  any  man  from  the  State 
of  Virginia.  And  as  I  invited  the  gentlemen  of  this  Convention  at 
Charleston  to  visit  my  plantation,  I  will  say  again  that  if  they  will  come 
to  see  me,  I  will  show  them  as  fine  a  lot  of  negroes,  and  the  pure  Afri- 
an,  too,  as  they  can  find  any  where.  And  I  will  show  them  as  hand- 
some a  set  of  little  children  there  as  can  be  seen  [laughter],  and  any 
quantity  of  them,  too.  [Renewed  laughter.]  And  I  wish  that  Vir- 
ginia may  be  as  good  a  slave-trading  and  slave-breeding  State  as 
Georgia  ;  and  in  saying  that,  I  do  not  mean  to  be  disrespectful  to  Vir- 
ginia, but  I  do  not  mean  to  dodge  the  question  at  all. 

I  think  I  shall  live  to  see  the  day  when  the  doctrines  which  I  advo- 
cate to-night  will  be  the  doctrines  of  "Massachusetts  and  of  the  North, 
for 

"  Truth  crushed  to  earth  will  rise  again, 

The  eternal  years  of  God  are  hers  ; 
While  error,  wounded,  writhes  in  pain 

And  dies  amid  her  worshipers." 

I  say  I  go  for  non-intervention  in  the  broadest  sense  of  the  term. 

Mr.  Gaulden's  speech  was  generally  laughed  at,  but  he  was  in  sober 
and  resolute  earnest.  He  is  quite  a  Yankee  in  appearance,  tall,  straight, 
sharp-nosed  and  keen-eyed,  and  vigorous  as  a  black-snake.  Nothing 
delights  him  more  than  to  tell  of  the  swarms  of  young  niggers  on  his 
plantation. 

Mr.  Ewing  of  Tennessee  here  announced  :  Mr.  President,  the  ma- 
jority of  the  delegation  from  Tennesssee,  who  asked  the  indulgence  of 
this  Convention  to  retire  for  consultation,  have  done  so,  and  as  the 
result  of  their  deliberations  I  have  to  announce  that  nineteen  out  of 
twenty-four  representatives  have  decided  to  retire,  and  five  to  remain. 

Mr.  Steele  of  North  Carolina  had  not  seen  cause  for  going  out  of  the 
Convention. 

Mr.  Claiborne  of  Missouri  made  a  speech.     He  said : 

To-day,  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  Democracy,  I  have  seen 
the  mother  of  States  starting  madly  from  a  National  Convention.  I 
am  a  Soutbern  man,  born  and  raised  beneath  the  sunny  sky  of  the  South. 
Not  a  drop  of  blood  in  my  veins  ever  flowed  in  veins  north  of  Mason's 
and  Dixon's  line.  My  ancestors  for  300  years  sleep  beneath  the  turf 
that  shelters  the  bones  of  Washington,  and  I  thank  God  that  they  rest 
in  the  graves  of  honest  slaveholders.      [Applause.] 

He  had  once  in  his  life  bolted  from  a  Convention,  and  it  came  very 
near  proving  his  political  death.  He  found  that  he  had  fallen  about 
seventeen  hundred  feet  in  the  estimation  of  his  constituents  when  he  re- 
turned homo,  and  he  predicted  that  a  similar  fate  awaited  all  who  should 
secede  from  this  National  Convention. 

He  spoke  in  the  most  enthusiastic  manner  of  Mr.  Douglas.  He 
talked  of  the  Scottish  Chieftain,  Lord  James  of  Douglas,  carrying  to 
the  man  of  Palestine  the  heart  of  Bruce  encased  in  a  golden  box,  throw- 
ing-it  into  the  ranks  of  the  enemy  and  fighting  his  way  to  it.  Even  so 
Stephen  A.  Douglas,  with  the  Constitution,  would  go  into  the  ranks  of 
the  enemy.     He  said  :  Sir,  if  there  is  any  thing  the  Southern  Democracy 


202 

dislike,  it  is  the  fossil  remains  of  Wliiggery  and  Know-Nothingism 
[laugliter]  ;  and  I  tell  you  when  it  is  known  to  the  people  of  the  South 
that  it  is  the  design  of  the  Secedeis  to  defeat  the  old  time-honored 
Di'mocracy  in  this  way,  they  will  dudge  them  as  they  dodge  lightning. 
[Laughter.]  He  promised  twenty-five  thou.sand  majority  for  Douglas 
in  Missouri. 

After  some  remarks  by  Mr.  Clark  of  Missouri,  who  wished  to  con- 
sult, there  were  cries  of  question  ;  and  the  motion,  "  Shall  the  main  ques- 
tion bo  now  put,"  to  go  into  a  nomination  of  candidates  for  President 
and  Vice-President,  was  carried. 

The  President — The  motion  has  been  carried.  Will  the  Convention 
now  vote  upon  the  main  question  ? 

Mr.  Cessna  of  Pennsylvania — I  move  an  adjournment. 

Cries  of  "  No,  no." 

Mr.  Clarke — I  will  claim  the  right  to  make  the  statement  I  proposed 
in  the  morning. 

The  President — A  motion  to  adjourn  has  been  made.  All  who  are 
in  favor  of  it  will  vote  aye,  etc. 

The  vote  being  taken  viva  voce,  the  President  decided  that  the  ques- 
tion had  been  determined  in  the  affirmative,  whereupon  the  Convention, 
at  10:30  P.  M.,  adjourned. 


SIXTH    DAY. 


Baltimore,  June  23d. 

We  had  from  this  time  forth  a  divided  Convention — one  sitting  in 
the  theatre,  and  one  in  the  Maryland  Institute.  Both  claimed  regulari- 
ty, and  to  be  the  National  Democratic  Convention.  The  controversy 
was  animated  as  that  respecting  Townsend's  Sarsaparilla.  Perhaps  the 
record  will  show  the  facts.  There  seemed  to  be  a  lull  in  the  excitement 
after  adjournment  on  the  fifth  day.  Tlie  deed  was  done.  The  disrup- 
tion of  the  Convention  was  a  fixed  fact.  The  case  was  beyond  the 
power  of  medicine  or  surgery.  Consequently  there  was  a  comparative 
calm. 

There  was  the  usual  double-headed  mass  meeting  in  Monument 
Square,  but  its  spirit  had  evaporated.  The  private  cursing  was  not 
loud  but  deep.  The  public  speaking  was  rather  loud  than  deep.  The 
meeting  was  adjourned  by  a  crowd  of  Baltimorcans  with  "  Three  cheers 
for  Bell  and  Everett." 


IN  THE  THEATRE 

This  morning,  the  first  thing  in  order  after  prayers,  was  the  report  of 
the  decision  of  the  Kentucky  delegation.  Col.  Caldwell  stated  the  de- 
termination arrived  at  in  very  gentlemanly  and  respectful  terms,  and 
withdrew   the   name   of  James  Guthrie.     A  communication   from   Mr. 


203 

James  G.  Leach  of  Kentucky  was  read.  It  stated  bis  reasons  for  with- 
drawing, and  was  couched  in  terms  that  reflected  severely  upon  the  ac- 
tion ot  the  Convention. 

Mr.  Payne  of  Ohio  considered  the  communication  insulting.  Several 
other  gentlemen  thought  the  Convention  had  been  insulted. 

Mr.  Leach  said  he  had  intended  no  disre.-pect  to  the  Convention,  and 
he  thought  it  a  morbidly  sensitive  body  to  take  offense. 

The  following  gentlemen  from  the  Kentucky  delegation,  N.  W.  Wil- 
liamson, G.  A.  Caldwell,  delegates  for  the  State  at  large,  W.  Bradley, 
Samuel  B.  Field,  Thos.  J.  Young,  presented  a  series  of  resolutions,  set- 
ting forth  that  without  intending  to  vacate  their  seats,  and  hoping,  for 
the  restoration  of  unity  and  harmony,  they  would  decline  to  participate 
longer  in  the  action  of  the  Convention  and  would  not  hold  themselves 
or  ciinstituents  bound  by  its  action. 

The  fullowing  was  also  presented  : 

Reaolved,  That  the  chairman  of  our  delegation  be  instrncted  to  inform  the  Con- 
vention ill  our  l)ehalf  that  in  the  present  condition  of  that  body  v/e  deem  it  in- 
consiiftent  with  our  duty  to  ourselves  and  our  constituents  to  participate  further 
in  its  deliberations.  Oiu' reasons  for  so  doing  will  be  givea  to  the  Democracy 
of  Kentucky. 

Jno.  Dishman,        L.  Green, 
J.  S.  KiNDRicK,       R.  M  Johnson', 
Jus.  B.  Beck.        Cal.  Butler, 
D.  W.  QuARLES,    R.  McKee, 
Colbert  Cecil,     Jas.  G.  Leach. 

Mr.  Kced  of  Kentucky  was  happy  to  say  there  were  nine  delegates 
from  that  State,  who  saw  no  cause  for  the  disturbance  of  the  harmony 
of  the  Convention.     He  said  : 

I  read  in  the  history  of  the  ancient  city  of  the  plain  that  an  angel  of 
the  Lord  was  sent  to  inquire  whether  there  were  any  righteous  men  to  be 
found  that  that  city  might  be  saved,  the  promise  being  that  if  five  could 
be  found  it  should  not  be  destroyed.  [A.pplause.]  I  am  happy  to  say 
that  from  Kentucky  there  are  not  only  five  but  nine  men  who  will  stand 
by  this  Convention.  [Applause.]  It  is  a  Democratic  Convention.  It 
belongs  to  the  Democratic  party.  We,  of  Kentucky,  stand  here  op- 
posing seces.sion  and  sectionalism  North  and  South.  We  will  stand 
with  you  as  a  wall  of  fire  in  opposing  both  extremes.  I  am  not  going 
to  abandon  the  Convention  because  it  is  apparent  that  one  of  our  glori- 
ous chieftains  is  not  likely  to  receive  the  nomination.  [Applause.] 
No,  I  have  gratitude  in  my  heart  to  the  man  whose  pathway  from  the 
city  of  Washington  to  his  house  in  the  far  West  is  lighted  by  his  own 
effigies.  [Applause.]  We  in  Kentucky  owe  to  him,  and  to  the  North 
and  West,  our  homes  and  firesides.  Gentlemen  who  own  a  hundi'ed 
slaves  each,  say  I  am  right.  I  will  go  home  to  my  constituents  and  to 
the  campaign,  and  camp-fires  will  be  lighted  in  the  mountains  and  val- 
leys, and  in  less  than  seventy  days  you  will  hear  a  shout  that  will  turn 
the  course  of  affairs  and  set  things  right.  [x\pplause.]  We  will  take 
this  matter  out  of  the  hands  of  politicians  and  the  Admini^tration  and 
return  it  to  the  people.  He  concluded  by  putting  in  nomination  again 
"Mr.  Guthrie,  Kentucky's  favorite  son." 


204 


Mr.  Clark  of  Missouri  arinounced  that  two  of  tho  delos^atlon  of  that 
Stite  had  concluded  to  retire  from  the  Cnnvention.  Mr  Clark  reiforated 
his  fixed  purpose  of  nmuining  in  the  Convention,  if  it  folluwed  in  its 
aciinn  "  tlie  us^a^^os  of  the  Democratic  partj." 

Mr.  Hill  of  North  Carolina  retired  from  the  Convention,  because  he 
held  a  seat  under  the  same  circunifetances  as  Mr.  Hallett  of  Massachu- 
setts had  held  his.  As  Mr.  Hallett  had  been  ousted,  he  could  not  in 
honor  remain,  though  his  alternate  did  not  claim  his  seat. 

Mr.  Mdore  of  Delaware  was  anxious  to  make  some  remarks. 

Mr.  McCook  of  Ohio  objected. 

Mr.  Jones  of  Tennessee  said  that  instead  of  19  only  13  of  the  dele- 
gates from  that  State  had  retired  from  the  Convention. 

Several  leading  Douglas  men  now  insisted  upon  choking  off  debate, 
and  as  the  main  question  had  been  ordered  to  be  now  put,  nothing  could 
be  said  without  general  consent.  The  President  had  received  two  pa- 
pers, and  deemed  it  his  duty  to  communicate  them  to  the  Convention. 
One  paper  was  signed  by  Mr.  Stirmaa  of  Arkansas.  The  other  wa-s 
from  the  delesration  of  Georgia. 

Mr.  Stirman  of  Arkansas  desired  to  state  why  he  retired  from  the 
Convention.     Oljection  was  made  and  insisted  upon. 

Mr.  Cessna  of  Pennsylvania  called  for  the  vote  upon  his  resolution 
to  ballot  for  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-President. 

The  President — Gentlemen  of  the  Convention,  a  motion  has  been 
made  by  the  gentleman  from  Pennsylvania  (Mr.  Cessna),  to  the  consid- 
eration of  which  the  chair  will  now  proceed. 

But  before  doing  so,  I  beg  the  indulgence  of  the  Convention  to  say 
that  whilst  deeply  sensible  of  the  honor  done  me  by  the  Convention  in 
placing  me  in  this  chair,  I  was  not  less  deeply  sensible  of  the  difficul- 
ties, general  and  personal,  looming  up  in  the  future  to  environ  my  path. 
Nevertheless,  in  the  solicitude  to  maintain  the  harmony  and  union  of 
the  Democratic  party,  and  in  the  face  of  the  retirement  of  the  delegations 
of  several  States,  I  continued  at  my  post,  laboring  to  that  end,  and  in 
that  sense  had  the  honor  to  meet  you,  gentlemen,  here  in  Baltimore. 
But  circumstances  have  since  transpired  which  compel  me  to  pause. 
The  delegations  of  a  majority  of  the  States  of  this  Union  have,  either 
in  whole  or  in  part,  in  one  form  or  another,  ceased  to  particip;ite  in  the 
deliberations  of  this  body.  At  no  time  would  any  consideration  of  can- 
didates have  affected  my  judgment  as  to  my  duty.  And  I  came  here 
prepared,  regardless  of  all  personal  preferences,  cordially  to  support  the 
Dominations  of  this  Convention,  whosoever  they  might  be.  But  under 
the  present  citcumstances  I  deem  it  a  duty  of  self-respect,  and  I  deem 
it  §till  more  a  duty  to  this  Convention  as  at  prej-ent  organized — I  say  I 
deem  it  my  duty  in  both  relations,  whilst  tendering  my  mo.st  grati-ful 
acknowledgements  to  gentlemen  of  all  sides,  and  especially  to  those 
gentlemen  who  may  have  differed  with  me  in  opinion  in  any  respect, 
whilst  tendering  my  most  grateful  acknowledgments  to  all  gintlcmen 
for  the  candid  and  honorable  support  wliich  they  have  given  to  the  chair, 
even  when  they  differed  in  opinion  upon  rulings,  and  whilst  tendering 
also  to  the  gentlemen  present  my  most  cordial  respects  and  regards,  not 
knowing  a  single   gentleman  upon   this  floor  as  to  whom  I   have   other 


205 


than  sentiments  of  cordiality  and  friendship — I  deem  it  my  duty  to  re- 
sign my  seat  as  presiding  officer  of  this  Convention,  [xlpplause.]  I 
deem  it  my  duty  to  resign  my  place  as  presiding  officer  of  this  Conven- 
tion in  order  to  take  my  seat  on  the  floor  as  a  member  of  the  delegation 
of  Massachusetts,  and  to  abide  whatever  may  be  its  determination  in 
regard  to  its  further  action  in  this  Convention.  And  I  deem  this  above 
all  a  duty  I  owe  to  the  members  of  the  Convention  as  to  whom  my  ac- 
tion would  no  longer  represent  the  will  of  the  majority  of  the  Conven- 
tion. 

When  Mr.  Cushing  used  the  words  "but  before  doing  so"  the 
whole  Convention  knew  what  was  coming,  and  every  word  he  uttered 
was  heard  by  all.  The  occasion  was  a  severe  trial  for  even  the  well- 
trained  nerves  of  Mr.  Cushing,  and  there  was,  for  a  moment,  slight 
embarrassment  of  manner.  The  North-western  delegates  cheered  him 
violently  as  he  retired  from  the  chair,  and  hundreds  of  spectators  cheered 
him  also.  The  North-westerners  wished  to  express  their  joy  in  getting 
rid  of  him.  The  spectators  desired  to  show  that  they  approved  his 
course. 

Gov.  David  Todd  of  Ohio,  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents,  took  the  chair, 
and  as  he  rapped  to  order,  the  friends  of  Mr.  Douglas,  seeing  their  way 
clear  (through  the  Convention),  cheered  enthusiastically.  Gov.  Todd 
said,  as  soon  as  he  could  be  heard : 

As  the  present  presiding  officer  of  this  Convention  by  common  con- 
sent of  my  brother  Vice-Presidents,  with  great  diffidence  I  assume  the 
chair.  When  I  announce  to  you  that  for  thirty-four  years  I  have  stood 
up  in  that  district  so  long  misrepresented  by  Joshua  R.  Giddings,  with 
the  Democratic  Banner  in  my  hand  [applause],  I  know  that  I  shall  re- 
ceive the  good  wishes  of  this  Convention,  at  least,  for  the  discharge  of 
the  duties  of  the  chair.  If  there  are  no  privileged  questions  interven- 
ing, the  Secretary  will  proceed  with  the  call  of  the  States. 

Mr.  Butler  of  Massachusetts  was  now  anxious  to  obtain  the  floor,  the 
object  being  to  withdraw  the  majority  of  the  delegation  of  his  State. 
The  Douglas  men  flew  into  a  tempest  of  passion,  and  shouted  "  order," 
and  "object."  Todd  thought  it  his  business  to  force  a  vote  instantly, 
and  insisted  that  the  Secretary  should  proceed  to  call  the  States — con- 
sequently the  Secretary  shrieked  out  the  names  of  States,  in  the  din  of 
an  indescribable  confusion.  There  were  partial  responses  from  some  of 
them  which  could  hardly  be  heard,  and  the  Convention  seemed  rapidly 
becoming  a  roaring  mob.  Gavit,  chairman  of  the  Indiana  delegation, 
jumped  up  and  moved  that  the  Convention  give  Massachusetts  leave  to 
retire,  and  give  her  three  cheers  for  going. 

When  the  State  of  Massachusetts  was  called  for  a  vote,  however, 
Mr.  Butler  had  the  opportunity  of  stating  the  desire  of  the  majority  of 
the  Massachusetts  delegation  to  withdraw.     He  said  : 

We  have  not  discussed  the  question,  Mr.  President,  whether  the  ac- 
tion of  the  Convention,  in  excluding  certain  delegates,  could  be  any 
reason  fur  withdrawal.  We  now  put  our  withdrawal  before  you,  upon 
the  simple  ground,  among  others,  that  there  has  been  a  withdrawal  in 
part  of  a  majority  of  the  States,  and  further  (and  that,  perhaps,  more  per- 
sonal to  myccli),  upon  the  ground  that  I  will  not  sit  in  a  Convention 


206 

where  the  Afiionn  plavetrado — which  is  piracy  by  the  laws  of  my  coun- 
try— \-*  approvingly  advocated. 

The  (.'iinveniioti  laughed  at  the  virtue  of  Mr.  Butler  on  the  huhject 
of  the  slave  trade.  He  passed  out  shaking  hands  right  and  left,  and 
was  Idudly  cheered  on  his  way.  A  good  many  hard  things  had  l»een 
said  of  Mr.  Hutler,  but  he  had  provided  himself  with  a  b<idv-gu;ird  in 
the  person  of  Price,  the  Bo.-iton  prize-fighter,  who  stood  near  with  a  Imll- 
dog  expre.>-sion  of  countenance,  whde  Mr.  Butler  was  striving  for  the 
floor,  and  speaking. 

Mr.  Srevens.  one  of  the  remaining  delegates  of  Massachusetts,  said 
it  was  hi.s  conviction  that  he  could  not  leave  that  Convention  without 
meeting  the  deepest  reprol)ation  of  his  constituents. 

Mr.  Brent  of  Maryland  had  something  to  say.  Mr.  Jones  of  Penn- 
sylvania insisted  sharply,  when  Mr.  Dick  of  North  Carolina  commenced 
a  speech,  that  gentlemen  should  not  make  stump  speeches  in  explaining 
their  votes.  Dick  said  his  constituents  had  sent  hira  there,  knowing 
that  he  would  vote  for  Douglas.  Speaking  of  the  parties  opposed  to 
the  Democracy,  he  said  : 

True,  one  is  but  a  small  army,  with  no  ammunition,  and  with  old 
rusty  guns  long  since  condemned.  [Laughter  ]  But  the  other  is  a 
foe  to  be  dreaded.  They  are  falling  into  line  and  advancing.  They 
have  an  expLrienced  chieftain,  and  above  their  heads  waves  the  banner 
of  treason  and  disunion,  stained  with  the  blood  of  Virginia's  sons. 
[Applause.] 

A  point  of  order  was  raised  on  Mr.  Dick  by  Mr.  Jones  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Mr.  Yost  of  Virginia  threatened  to  leave  the  Convention,  "  as  a 
Douglas  man,"  it  Southern  delegates  were  not  allowed  to  explain  their 
votes,  and  make  a  record  to  go  V)efore  their  constituents  upon. 

The  President  ruled  that  Mr.  Dick  could  proceed  in  spite  of  objec- 
tion. It  was  explained  that  Mr.  Dick  was  a  District  Attorney  of  the 
United  States.  Mr.  Dick  concluded  his  speech,  and  cast  one  vote  from 
North  Carolina  for  Douglas. 

Mr.  (jraulden  )f  Georgia  read  a  card  from  the  Georgia  delegation, 
Btatinv  that  he  (Gaulden),  "  in  assuming  to  act  as  a  delegate  from  the 
State  of  Georgia,  has  violated  the  instructions  of  his  State,  and  his 
persoiKil  pledijfs  to  his  colleagues,  and  has  cau.sed  mortitication  and 
disgust  to  the  delegation  from  Georgia."  Mr.  Gaulden  had  "as  much 
pity  and  contetnpt  for  them,  as  they  could  possibly  have  for  him."  In 
concluding,  Mr.  Gaulden  excused  himself  from  voting. 

Mr.  Parsons  of  Alabama,  in  casting  the  vote  of  Alabama,  said  : 

You  will  dnd  a  resptmse  come  up  from  the  Gulf  States — the  Cotton 
States — such  as  never  before  has  been  heard  since  this  Republic  was 
established.  [Applause.]  Y^m  have  been  told  by  distinguished  gen- 
tlemen fiom  our  State  that  we  do  not  speak  the  sentiments  of  our  peo- 
ple. We  apjical  to  the  verdict  of  the  ballot-hox.  We  made  the  issue 
with  them  in  ISfjO  and  lS5l,  and  we  tell  them  to  take  warning  from 
the  result  of  that  i.ssue. 

Pierre  Soule  n<JW  made  the  speech  of  the  Convention,  His  rolling, 
glittering,  eagle  eye,  Napoleonic  head  and  face,  slmrp  voice,  with  a  mar- 


207 

gin  of  French  accent,  and  piercing,  intense  earnestness  of  manner, 
commanded  profound  attention,  and  fascinated  all  who  saw  and  beard. 
His  speech  was  a  brilliant  and  noble  effort,  and  was  rapturou.-<ly  ap- 
plauded to  the  echo.  The  effect  of  this  speech  was  to  greatly  animate 
and  reassure  the  friends  of  Douglas.     He  said  : 

I  have  not  been  at  all  di.*couraged  by  the  emotion  which  has  been 
atten)pted  to  be  created  in  this  body,  by  those  who  have  seceded  from 
it.  We  from  the  farthest  South  were  prepared  ;  we  had  heard  around 
us  the  rumors  which  were  to  be  initiatory  of  the  exit  which  you  have 
witnessed  on  this  day,  and  we  knew  that  conspiracy  which  had  been 
brooding  for  months  past,  would  break  out  on  this  occasion,  and  for  the 
purposes  which  are  obvious  to  every  member.  Sirs,  there  are  in  politi- 
cal life  men  who  were  once  honored  by  popular  favor,  who  consider  that 
the  favor  has  become  to  them  an  inalienable  property,  and  who  cling  to 
it  as  to  something  that  can  no  longer  be  wrested  from  their  hands — 
political  fossils  so  much  incrusted  in  office  that  there  is  hardly  any 
power  that  can  extract  them.  [Applause]  They  saw  that  the  popular 
voice  was  clearly  manifesting  to  this  glorious  nation  who  was  to  be  her 
next  ruler.  More  than  eight  or  ten  months  before  this  Convention  as- 
sembled, the  name  of  that  future  ruler  of  these  States  had  been  thrown 
into  the  canva!^s  and  was  before  the  people.  Instead  of  biinging  a  can- 
didate to  oppoi-e  him;  instead  of  creating  before  the  people  issues  upon 
which  the  choice  of  the  nation  could  be  enlightened  ;  instead  of  prin- 
ciples discussed,  what  have  we  seen  ?  An  unrelenting  war  against  the 
individual  presumed  to  be  the  favorite  of  the  nation  [applause] — a  war 
waged  by  an  army  of  unprincipled  and  unscrupulous  politicians,  leagued 
with  a  power  which  could  not  be  exerted  on  their  side  without  dis- 
gracing itself  and  disgracing  the  nation.      [Renewed  applause  ] 

Mr.  Soule  declared  secession  meant  disunion.  He  said,  however,  the 
South  had  backed  out  from  its  threat  made  on  the  California  question. 
He  said  further : 

John  C.  Calhoun,  when  the  famous  compromise  tendered  by  Mr. 
Clayton  of  Delaware  was  being  di-cussed  in  the  United  States  Senate — 
John  C.  Calhoun  considered  that  the  proffer  to  place  in  the  bands  of  one 
federal  tribunal  the  question  of  the  extent  of  power  in  the  Territories 
was  to  the  South  a  sufficient  guarantee  to  make  acceptable  the  compro- 
mise tendered  ;  and  where  Calhoun  could  stand  a  Southern  man  need 
not  fear  to  stand. 

He  declared  the  people  of  the  South  would  not  respond  to  the  call 
made  upon  them  by  the  Secessionit-ts.  He  said  Louisiana  was  unwilling 
to  risk  her  future,  and  the  future  of  the  Union,  upon  impracticable  issues 
and  merely  theoretical  abstractions. 

Mr.  Stirinan  of  Arkansas  here  withdrew  from  the  Convention.  He 
was  sorry  to  go,  but  under  his  instructions,  had  no  alternative. 

Mr.  Flournoy  of  Arkansas  explained  how  he  happetied  to  be  instruct- 
ed to  vote  for  Breckenridge.  He  then  proceeded  ui  the  following  elo- 
quent strain  : 

I  am  a  Southern  man,  born  and  reared  amid  the  instituticm  of  sla- 
very. I  tirst  learned  to  whirl  the  fop  anrl  bounce  the  ball  with  the 
young  African.     Every  thing  I  own  on  earth  is  the  result  of  slave  labor. 


208 

The  bread  that  feeds  my  wife  and  little  ones  is  produced  by  the  labor 
of  slaves.  They  live  on  my  plantation  with  every  feeling  of  kindness 
as  between  muster  and  slave.  Sir,  if  I  could  see  that  there  is  any  thing 
intended  in  our  platform  unfriendly  to  the  institution  of 'slavery — if  I 
could  see  that  we  did  not  get  every  constitutional  right  we  are  entitled 
to,  I  would  be  the  last  on  earth  to  submit  in  this  Union  ;  I  would  my- 
self apply  the  torch  to  the  magazine  and  blow  it  into  atoms  before  I 
would  submit  to  wrong.  [Applause.]  But  I  feel  that  iu  the  doctrine 
of  non-intervention  and  popular  sovereignty  are  euough  to  protect  the 
interests  of  the  South. 

Mr.  Dodge  of  Iowa  made  a  speech  in  whicli  he  praised  Judge  Doug- 
las and  Col.  Richardson  extravagantly,  and  wondered  at  the  hostility 
displayed  toward  them  by  the  South. 

Before  the  result  of  the  ballot  was  announced,  Mr.  Stoughton  chal- 
lenged the  vote  of  Vermont.  He  had  declined  to  vote,  and  yet  the 
whole  vote  of  the  State  had  been  cast.  Mr.  Smith  of  Vermont  con- 
tended that,  according  to  instructions,  he  had  the  right  to  cast  the  whole 
vote  of  the  State. 

As  the  name  of  Horatio  Seymour  had  been  mentioned  and  a  vote  cast 
for  him,  Mr.  Bissell  of  New  York  withdrew  the  name  of  Seymour, 
reading  a  letter  of  declension  from  that  gentleman.  Mr.  Seymour  said 
in  his  letter : 

"I  do  not  suppose  my  name  will  be  presented  on  that  occasion,  but 
if  it  is  I  request  that  you  will,  as  a  delegate  from  this  district,  withdraw 
it  from  their  consideration.  I  cannot,  under  any  circumstances,  be  a 
candidate  for  the  office  of  President  or  Vice-President." 

Mr.  Bissell  said  : 

It  is  due  to  Mr.  Seymour  to  say  that  he  has  ever  expressed  to  me, 
his  neighbor  and  friend,  the  same  feeling.  Gentlemen  have  entertained 
different  views ;  and  a  paper  in  New  York  (I  regret  to  pollute  my  lips 
with  its  name),  the  Now  York  Herald,  has  insisted  all  the  time  that 
Mr.  Seymour  was  not  honest;  but,  as  his  friend  and  neighbor,  I  with- 
draw his  name. 

A  Maryland  delegate  withdrew  his  vote  for  Breckenridge  and  declined 
to  vote. 

RESULT    OF    THE    FIRST    BALLOT. 

The  Secretary  here  announced  the  result  of  the  first  ballot  as 
follows : 

Whole  vote  cast 19(li 

For  Doii-las - lT.il 

For  Giitliric 9 

For  Bri'ckonridgo 5 

For  Seymour 1 

For  Hocock 1 

For  WIhc I 

For  DickinBoii I 


209 


FIRST   BALLOT. 


States. 

3 

c 

Q 

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s 

i 

o 

o 

c 
P3 

c 
o 

tc 

c 

",5 

o 

s 

.... 

3 

0 
O 

s 

Si 

5 

5 
10 

4 

3.1 
35' 

?i 

Vermont                                            

Connecticut                         .        

New  York 

Pennsylvania            

10" 

n 

1 

9 

6 

•    1 

4i 
3 

3 

3 

Maryland    

^ 

Alabama             .             .   .          

^ 

Missouri     

... 

•li 

H 

Ohio                              

23 
13 
11 

6 
5 
4 

2k 

J 

1 
in 

Tofal 

5 

i 

1 

1 

Mr.  Church  of  New  York  offered  a  resolution.  Objections  were 
made.  Many  delegates  wanted  another  ballot  before  a  resolution  was 
introduced.     The  resolution  was  read  as  follows  : 

Resolved,  That  Stephen  A.  Dougla.s,  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  having  now 
received  two-thirds  of  all  the  votes  given  in  this  Convention,  he  is  hereby 
declared,  in  accordance  with  the  rules  governing  this  body  and  in  accordance 
with  the  uniform  custom  and  rules  of  former  D(  mocratic  National  Conventions, 
the  regular  nominee  of  the  Democratic  party  of  the  United  States  for  the  ofSce 
of  President. 

Mr.  Church  made  a  speech  in  favor  of  his  resolution.  He  said  : 
We  have  yielded  every  thing  but  personal  honor  in  order  to  heal  up 
the  divisions  of  this  Convention.  One  question  after  another  has  been 
presented  to  us,  and  we  have  been  asked  to  yield  this  point,  and  that 
point,  and  the  other  point,  and  we  have  never  failed  to  respond  when- 
ever we  have  been  asked  until  we  were  required  to  yield  up  every  thing 
which  distinguishes  our  manhood — nay,  more,  every  thing  which  distin- 
guishes the  manhood  of  the  200,000  Democrats  behind  us.  [Ap- 
plause.] When  we  came  to  that  point — though  we  say  it  with  pain, 
and  sorrow,  and  anguish — when  we  were  asked  to  admit,  without  ques- 
tion or  examination,  the  whole  body  of  secedcrs  who  came  here  to  our 
doors — not  repentant,  not  determined  to  abide  by  our  action,  but 
demanding  the  surrender  of  our  principles  into  their  hands — when  we 
14 


210 


were  asked  to  do  that,  and,  besides,  to  give  np  our  candidate  and  the 
caiididite  of  the  choice  of  the  Democracy  of  New  York — a  candidate 
who  will  .sweep  New  York  as  with  a  whirlwind  [applau>e] — when  we 
were  asked  to  do  all  that,  we  said  firmlj  we  cannot  in  honor  comply  with 
your  demands. 

Mr.  Church  .said  of  the  adoption  of  the  two-third,s  rule  in  tlie  .shape 
it  took  in  Charleston,  that  it  wa.s  "outrageous,  undemocratic,  de.^^potic, 
wrong" — but   New  York  had  submitted  to  it  for   the  sake  of  harmony. 

Mr.  Gittings  of  Maryland  rose  to  most  solemnly  protest  again&t  the 
proposed  action.     He  said  : 

The  gentleman  from  New  York  (Mr.  Church),  say.s  in  one  breath 
that  New  York  has  always  desired  to  offer  the  olive-branch  ;  and  in  the 
next  breath  he  throws  a  fire-brand  in  the  midst  of  the  Democratic  party 
which  will  create  a  flame  no  power  on  earth  can  quench.  The  two- 
thirds  rule  is  one  of  the  cardinal  principles  for  the  government  of  Dem- 
ocratic Conventions;  snd  better  not  make  a  noniinatiun  at  all  than 
rescind  a  rule  for  the  purpose  of  making  any  one  man  a  candidate. 

After  some  further  debate,  Mr.  Church  withdrew  his  resolution  for 
another  ballot. 

Mr.  Klournoy  of  Arkansas  voted  for  Douglas  this  time. 

Mr.  Becker  stated  that  himself  and  two  of  his  colleagues  had  come 
to  the  conclusion  to  withdraw  from  the  Convention.  They  were  ready 
to  meet  all  the  responsibility  for  so  doing.  The  following  is  the  result 
of  the 

8KC0ND  BAIXOT. 


States. 

.5 

O 

7 

5 

10 

4 

■>  1 

3;-)' 

2.' 
10" 

•A' 

!S 

a 

.2 

3 

o 

New  lliimpshire 

Massiiclmsetts 

Rhode  Island 

Conni'Cticiit 

New  .rtTscy                                   

Penti'^vlvaiiia  

7 

2J 

Maryland         .                                            

3 

1 

9 
(i 
1.' 

n 

North  ('arolina   

Alahuina 

LouiKJaiKi 

MisHouri 

n 

I 

13 

11 

6 
6 
4 

4 

I8U 

Kentucky 

^ 

Ohio                                     

Indiana                                          .         .    .            

Illinois                                     

Micliinun 

Iowa                                     

Miuueet)lu                             

Total 

7i 

~i 

211 

Whole  number  of  votes,  1942. 

The  increased  vote  on  this  ballot  was  from  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Hoge  of  Virginia  wanted  to  move  the  unanimous  nominntinn  of 
Douglas.  Mr.  Clark  of  Miss^ouri,  who  had  voted  against  Doui^his,  said 
it  was  his  purpose  to  second  the  motion  of  Mr.  Hoge.  Mr.  H.  now 
said  : 

I  now  beg  leave  to  submit  the  following  resolution,  being  the  same  as 
that  offered  by  the  gentleman  from  New  York  (Mr.  Church),  with  a 
slight  modification  that  he  and  I  have  made  : 

Re-toUed  unnnimously,  That  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  having 
now  received  two-thirds  of  all  votes  given  in  this  Convention  i.*  hereby  diclared, 
in  accordance  with  rules  governing  this  body,  and  in  accordance  with  the  uni- 
form customs  and  rules  of  former  Democratic  National  Conventions,  the  regular 
nominee  of  the  Democratic  party  of  the  United  States  for  the  office  of  Tresideut 
of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Sayles  of  Rhode  Island  made  a  speech  about  the  late  Democratic 

victory  in  that  State,  and  said  he  had  been  told  in  Charleston  that  they 
were  hardly  better  than  Black  Republicans. 

]\Ir.  Seymour  of  New  York  enthusiastically  indorsed  Douglas,  though 
he  had  heretofore  opposed  him. 

Mr.  Mason  of  Kentucky  made  a  speech,  in  which  he  doubted  whether 
the  fires  would  blaze  so  high  upon  the  mountain-tops  as  had  been  assert- 
ed. He  thought  the  resolution  of  Mr,  Church  injudicious,  and  pro- 
posed an  amendment  as  follows  : 

Now,  if  you  will  not  say  in  the  resolution  that  this  is  the  rule  which 
has  heretofore  governed  the  Deniocrij,tic  party — because  you  voted  at 
Charleston,  that  it  was  not,  and  for  our  accommodation  ;  if  you  will  not 
make  this  new  construction,  but  simply  declares  that,  under  all  the  cir- 
cumstances, Mr.  Douglas  ought  to  be  the  unanimous  nominee  of  this 
party,  I  should  not  be  surprised  if  the  State  of  Kentucky  would  agree 
with  you,  and  that  quite  likely  you  may  get  the  vote  of  that  State, 
though  I  cannot  say  it  with  certainly. 

jMr.  Richardson  of  Illinois — There  has  never  been  a  nomination  for 
President  under  any  other  construction  than  that  made  by  my  friend 
from  New  York  in  his  resolution.  It  is  true  you  agreed  at  Charleston 
that  you  would  not  do  it  this  time,  but  always  heretofore  you  have 
nominated  the  candidate  by  a  two-third  vote.  Mr.  Stevenson  of  Vir- 
ginia, in  1848,  when  the  New  York  delegation  was  excluded,  and  Gen. 
Cass  was  nominated,  declared  that  170  votes  were  twn-fliirds.  The 
action  of  the  Convention  has  been  unifoim  upon  this  subject. 

Mr.  Craig  of  Missouri — Is  there  any  obj(  ctinn  to  withdrawing  the 
resolution  and  declaring  the  nomination  unanimous  by  a  biy:,  old-f;ish- 
ioned  Democratic  yell  ?  [Laughter  and  cries  of  "  Question,"  "ques- 
tion."] 

The  question  being  taken  on  the  resolution  of  Mr.  Church,  it  was 
adopted  by  an  unanimous  aye. 

Now  a  storm  of  cheers  went  up.  The  banner  of  the  Keystone  State 
was  hung  out  from  the  U|i[)er  gallery,  and  somelody  proilmed  on  the 
stage  a  flag  on  which  it  was  written  "  Pennsylvania  good  for  40,000 
majority  for  Douglas. 


212 

The  President  said  :  Gentlemen  of  the  Convention,  as  jonr  presid- 
ing officer  I  declare  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  of  Illinois,  by  the  unanimous 
vote  of  this  Convention,  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic  party  of  the 
United  States  for  President.  [Here  Cuptuin  Kynders  led  off  with 
three  hearty  cheers.]  And  may  God,  in  his  infinite  mcn-y,  protect 
bim,  and  with  him  this  Union! 

Mr.  Dawson,  chairman  of  the  Pennsylvania  delegation,  was  called 
on  for  a  speech.     The  following  paragraphs  embody  its  substance  : 

Mr.  President  and  gentlemen  of  the  Convention,  it  is  scarcely  neces- 
sary for  me  to  say  that,  at  no  time  during  the  sittings  of  this  body,  did 
Judge  Douglas  receive  the  united  vote  of  the  delegation  from  Penn.«yl- 
vania.  And,  I  may  further  add,  that  in  the  consideration  of  a  plat- 
form a  majority  of  us  united  with  our  Southern  friends,  ready  to  give 
tliem  all  that  we  believed  them  entitled  to  under  the  Federal  Constitution. 
In  our  judgment  they  asked  fir  nothing  more,  and  we  were  not  willing 
to  give  them  less.  [Applause.]  In  our  actions  then  wc  have  been  over- 
ruled by  a  decided  majority  of  this  body,  and,  for  Penn.«ylvania,  I  am 
free  to  say  that,  attached  as  we  are  to  the  Democratic  party,  its  princi- 
ples, its  discipline,  its  organization,  standing  true  forever,  in  the  elo- 
quent language  of  the  President  in  his  opening  speech  at  Charleston, 
•'Standin"'  as  perpetual  sentinels  upon  the  outposts  of  the  Constitution," 
we  will,  I  trust,  abide  by  its  decisions  and  support  its  nominees.   [Cheers.] 

Judge  Douglas  is  a  man  of  acknowledged  talent,  and  everywhere 
regarded  as  the  accomplished  statesman,  .•^killed  in  the  art  of  ruling. 
Born  under  a  New  England  sun,  yet  by  adoption  a  citizen  of  the  West, 
honored  and  cherished  in  the  valley  of  the  Ohio  and  on  the  slopes  of 
the  Atlantic,  he  now  should  be  of  the  whole  country.  [Cheers.]  Un- 
trained, to  some  extent,  in  early  life,  in  the  learning  of  the  schools,  the 
deficiency,  if  any  exists,  has  been  largely  compensated  by  the  generous 
measure  in  which  nature  has  bestowed  upon  him  her  choicest  gifts  of 
intellei:t  and  character.  [Applause]  Like  Henry  of  the  Revolution, 
like  Peel  of  England,  these  noblo  qualities  have  made  him  the  architect 
of  his  own  fortune.     [Cheers.] 

Mr.  Shepley  of  Maine  ppokc  next.  He  had  not  been  for  Douglas 
at  first,  but  he  indorsed  his  nomination  and  said,  in  concluding  h's 
remarks : 

I  have  only  one  word  to  say  in  conclu.sion.  "We  represent  5f),000 
Democrats  in  tlie  State  of  Maine,  and  although  it  has  been  urged  here 
that  there  is  no  Northern  Democracy  in  the  coming  election,  we  will 
show  those  men  of  the  lowlands  who  have  said  it,  that 

"  There  are  hilU  beyotiJ  IVntlaDd, 

TlicTP  arp  friths  beyoml  Korth, 

ir  there  urn  lorili  ia  the  SoiithlHiid, 

IhiTe  are  chiefit  in  the  Nortli.'' 

Mr.  Cochrane  of  New  York  made  a  handsome  harmony  speech.  He 
had  been  against  Douglas,  but  now  congratulated  the  Convention  and 
the  whole  country.     He  said  : 

But  the  time  has  arrived  when  these  differences  of  opinion  are  to  be 
merged  in  the  authoritative  decree  of  the  great  Democratic  party,  and 
as  thut  decree  is  here  announced  to  the  people  of  the  United  Stales,  I 
for  one,  lend  the  feoule  volume  of  my  voice  to  those  wiads  and  currents 


213 

that  are  now  bearing  to  every  portion  of  the  Union  the  honored,  illus- 
trious, impregnable  name  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas.      [Loud  cheers.] 

He  deolared  further  that  "  the  reluctance  of  the  past  should  be 
compensated  by  the  cordiality  of  the  future,"  and  said  in  conclusion  : 
"Patriotism  and  honesty  require  that  those  who  have  been  sent  here  as 
delegates  are  in  strict  honor  bound  by  the  action  of  this  Convention. 
[Applause.]  But  above  and  beyond  the  obligations  of  honor  there  is 
a  volition  that  will  expand  from  these  walls  to  the  whole  country,  which 
will  resound  in  huzza  upon  huzza  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas." 

The  Convention  took  a  recess  until  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening. 

EVENING    SESSION. 

The  first  thing  was  an  explanation  from  Mr.  Harrington  of  Illinois, 
who  was  the  man  alluded  to  by  Mr.  Smith  of  California  as  having 
acknowledged  that  the  Cessna  resolution  was  a  trick.  He  said  that,  on 
the  contrary,  he  had  denied  that  that  resolution  was  a  trick.  He  ac- 
counted for  Mr.  Smith's  statement  by  saying  that  he  (Smith)  had  been 
almost  insane  from  excitement. 

The  following  was  named  as  the  National  Executive  Committee : 
Sylvanus  R  Lyman,  of  Portland,  Maine;  Alfeus  F.  Snow,  of  Clare- 
mont.  New  Hampshire;  Charles  G.  Eastman,  of  Montpelier,  Vermont; 
Frederick  C.  Price,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts;  Jacob  Babbitt,  of  Bris- 
tol, Rhode  Island;  Wm.  F.  Converse,  of  Norwich,  Connecticut;  Au- 
guste  Belmont,  of  New  York,  New  York;  Jacob  Van  Nosdale,  of  New- 
ark, New  Jersey;  Richard  Haldeman,  of  Harrisburg,  Penn.«ylvania' ; 
Thos.  M.  Lanahan,  of  Baltimore,  Maryland;  John  A.  Harman,  of 
Staunton,  Virginia;  Rob't  E.  Dick,  of  Greeufrborough,  North  Carolina; 
Wm.  B  Gaulden,  of  Huntsville,  Georgia;  W.  W.  Moore,  of  Jackson- 
ville, Florida;  Oatley  H.  Bynum,  of  Portland,  Alabama;  Thos.  Cott- 
man,  of  Donaldsonville,  Louisiana;  Thomas  Flournoy,  of  Arkansas; 
James  Craig,  of  St.  Joseph's,  Missouri;  C.  Knox  Walker,  of  Memphis, 
Tenneirsee ;  Henry  C.  Harri.son,  of  Covington,  Kentucky;  Hugh  J. 
Jewett,  of  Zanesville,  Ohio;  H.  W.  Harrington,  of  Madison,  Indiana; 
Murray  McKunnel,  of  Jacksonville,  Illinois  ;  Benj.  Follett,  of  Michi- 
gan ;  John  K.  Sharpstein,  of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin ;  Wm.  H.  Mer- 
rick, of  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa;  Henry  H.  Sibley,  of  Minnesota;  James 
A.  McDougal,  of  San  Francisco,  California- 
Mr.  Gaulden  of  Georgia  desired  to  decline,  but  was  not  allowed  to  do 
80,  and  accepted  "  as  a  private  citizen  of  Georgia.'' 

In  the  report  of  the  conmiittee  on  Rules  and  Regulations,  it  was  pro- 
vided that  the  place  of  holding  the  next  National  Convention  should  be 
in  the  discretion  of  the  National  Committee. 

Mr.  Sibley  of  Minnesota  said  :  It  was  held  by  the  presiding  officer 
that  the  term  of  office  of  the  National  Executive  Committee  expired 
upon  the  assembling  of  the  Convention,  and  serious  inconveniences 
have  resulted  in  consequence  of  that  ruling.  I  now  move  that  the 
Executive  Committee  shall  remain  in  existence  and  continue  its  func- 
tions until  its  successors  are  elected  and  qualified. 
The  motion  was  agreed  to.  ' 


214 

After  it  had  been  provi<led  that  Mr.  G.  Parkhur>t,  Reeonliiip  Secre- 
tary, hhould  prepart;  tlie  prooeei lings  for  publieatiun,  and  cause  10,000 
copies  ti)  be  piinti-d, 

3Ir.  Junes  of  Tennessee  said  :  Mr.  President,  the  Southern  dele- 
gates in  their  C<inveritii>n  have  eunferred  together  and  haveagned  unan- 
imously to  nominate  for  Viee-Pn-.-ident  of  the  United  States  the  Hon. 
Berijimin  Pitzjiatriek,  of  the  State  of  Alabama.      [Applause.] 

Mr.  Clark  of  3Io.  seconded  the  nomination.  IJe  said  that  a  better 
one  could  not  have  l)een  made,  and  that  the  name  of  Mr.  Filzpatiick 
would  be  a  tower  of  strength. 

Telegraphic  despatches  were  read  announcing  the  reception  of  the 
nondnation  of  Douglas  at  various  points. 

Tlie  President  (after  calling  the  Convention  to  order  repeatedly) — 
Gentlemen,  you  all  know  that  the  chair  feels  so  much  disposition  to 
join  in  these  yells  that  he  can't  keep  order. 

At  the  call  of  States  for  the  vo'e  on  the  Vice-Presidential  nominar 
tion.  Mr.  Fiizpatrick  received  ll'8i^  votes,  and  one  vote  was  given 
William  F.  Alexander  of  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Alexander's  name  was 
authoritatively  withdrawn  when  it  was  mentioned — a  delegate  from 
Pennsylvania  voting  for  him — Ijy  Mr.  Whitburn  of  New  Jersey. 

The  following  comrniltee,  upon  motion  of  Mr.  Ludlow,  was  appointed 
to  inform  Me.<srs.  Douglas  and  Fitzpatriek  of  their  nomination  :  Will- 
iam II.  Ludlow  of  New  York,  J.  L.  Seward  of  Georgia,  J.  L.  Dawson 
of  Pennsylvania,  Robert  C.  Wickliffe  of  Louisiana,  W.  A.  Gorman  of 
Mirines'>fa,  T.  V.  Flournoy  of  Arkansas.  A.  A.  King  of  Missouri,  Bi- 
on  liradbury  of  Maine,  R.  P.  Dick  of  North  Carolina. 

]\Ir.  Payne  of  Ohio — It  is  generally  understood  that  the  platform  was 
adopted  at  Charleston.  I  understand  a  distinguished  member  from 
Louisiana  (Mr.  Wicl^liffe)  de-sires  to  present  a  resolution  relating  to 
the  platform,  and  I  hope  he  will  be  allowed  to  do  so. 

Gov.  Wickliffe  of  Louisiana — In  Khalf  of  the  committee  on  Rcf^c- 
lutions,  I  beg  leave  to  present  the  following.  The  adoption  of  it  will 
give  to  Stepiien  A  Douglas  forty  thousand  votes  in  two  of  the  South- 
ern States  uf  this  Union  : 

Rexolvtd,  That  it  is  in  accordance  with  the  interpret ation  of  tbo  Cincinnati 
Platf^trin.  that  dnrlm;  the  existence  of  the  Ti-rritoriivl  (lovcrnmL-ntu  lln'  measure 
of  nslrielion.  wtmtivtT  il  may  \k,  imposul  hy  the  Fidcral  Coiistitiiiion  on  the 
power ot  llie  TcrritiMial  Li'irislature  ovit  tiie  siilijcet  of  the  domestic  n  lulions. 
as  tht!  sani  •  iias  hccn  or  shall  luTi^alter  ha  tiiialiy  determined  liy  the  Siiiireine 
Court  of  ti)e  United  .Slates,  sliould  bi-  re.-pected  liy  all  jjond  citizens  and  en- 
forced with  promptness  and  fidelity  by  every  brunch  of  the  General  Goverament. 

The  rosrdution  was  received  with  loud  expressions  of  approbation. 

Mr.  Payne — Mr.  President,  1  undertake  to  say  that  no  fair-minded 
man.  North  or  South,  can  find  luult  with  one  word  of  that  re.>-olutiun. 
[Siiveral  voices,  "  Not  a  woid."] 

Mr.  Payne  moved  the  previous  cjuestion.  Mr.  Davis  of  Virginia 
rose  with  excitement,  said  it  was  unfiir,  and  wanted  to  be  heard.  Mr. 
Payne  withdrew  the  previous  ijuestion. 

Mr.  l)avis  thought  the  subject  of  a  platform  was  already  sufficiently 
complicated.     Ho  did  not  want  Fitzpatriek  sucrifieed   by  the   introduo. 


215 

tion  of  that  resolution,  particularly  as  it  did  not  mean  any  thing  at  all. 
He  was  for  the  Cincinnati  Platform  alone.      He  said  : 

"If  we  cjin't  gi^t  what  we  want,  let  us  have  nothing  but  the  Cincinna- 
ti Platform  and  abide  by  that  and  wait  our  time.  By  and  by  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  will  give  protection,  I  believe,  and  that  is  the  reason  why 
I  was  elucred  as  a  protective  man.  I  am  a  protective  man  here  to-day. 
I^think  we  have  got  one  protective  man  on  the  ticket.  If  not,  I  am 
terribly  deceived.  I  don't  want  him  sacrificed  by  the  introductiim  of 
this  resolution.  You  won't  hear  me  to-night.  I  stand  ready  to  refute 
the  fallacy  of  sauatter  or  popular  sovereignty  whenever  I  can  be  lis- 
tened to.  All  i  will  say  here  then  is  that  this  resolution  complicates 
the  subjt'ct  and  involves  the  South  worse  and  worse,  and  I  protest,  in 
the  name  of  my  constituency,  against  its  adoption. 

The  resolution  was  adopted  viva  voce,  with  one  or  two  dissenting 
voices. 

The  Hon.  William  A.  Richardson  made  a  short  speech  reviewing  the 
controversy  between  those  who  had  seceded  from,  and  those  who  re- 
mained in  the  Convention.     He  said  : 

I  am  going  to  make  an  announcement  that  will  account  for  the  cur- 
rency of  a  rumor  prevalent  here  the  other  day.  Judge  Douglas  will 
accept  the  nomination.  [Loud  cheers  and  applause.]  But  Judge 
Douglas  was  prepared,  for  the  harmony  of  the  party,  for  the  success  of 
the  party,  for  the  preservation  of  the  government,  always  and  at  all 
times,  to  withdraw  his  name  from  the  Convention.  [Applause.]  I 
mean  those  gentlemen  shall  meet  that  issue  when  they  go  home.  I 
have  had  in  my  possession,  since  the  session  of  this  Convention  here, 
his  authority  placed  in  my  hands  to  withdraw  his  name,  to  lie  used  by 
his  friends  whenever  they  deemed  it  necessary  to  do  so.  [Great,  ap- 
plause.] And  I  now  send  to  the  Secretary's  desk  a  letter  which, 
though  marked   "  private,"  I  ask  may  be  read  to  this  Convention. 

In  this  letter  Mr.  Douglas  reiterated  his  doctrine  of  "Non-inter- 
vention," and  said  : 

"  But  while  I  can  never  sacrifice  the  principle,  even  to  attain  the  Pres- 
idency, I  will  cheerfully  and  j(jyfully  sacrifice  myself  to  maintain  the 
priticiple.  If,  therefore,  you  and  my  other  friends,  who  have  stood  by 
me  witli  such  heroic  firmness  at  Charleston  and  Baltimore,  shall  be  of 
the  opinion  that  the  principle  can  be  preserved  and  the  unity  and  as- 
cendancy of  the  Democratic  party  maintained  and  the  country  saved 
from  tlie  perils  of  Northern  abolitionism  and  Southern  disunion  by 
withdrawing  my  name  and  uniting  upon  some  other  non-intervention 
and  Union  loving  Democrat,  I  beseech  you  to  pursue  that  course. 
******* 

"The  action  of  the  Charleston  Convention  in  sustaining  me  by  so 
large  a  majority  on  the  platform,  and  designating  me  as  the  fiist  choice 
of  the  party  for  the  Presidency,  is  all  the  peisonal  triumph  I  desire. 
This  letter  is  prompted  by  the  same  motives  which  induced  my  despatch 
four  years  ago,  withdrawing  my  name  from  the  Cincinnati  Convention." 

Mr.  Richardson  resuming,  said  : 

So  anxious  was  my  friend,  the  nominee  of  this  Convention,  that  this 
should  be  impressed  upon  the  minds  of  all  his  friends  here  that  be  tele- 


216 

^aphcd  the  gentleman  from  New  York  (Mr.  Richmond)  on  yesterday, 
I  believe,  to  the  same  effect.  I  trust  that  no  per.'-on  who  knows  me  be- 
lieves that  I  would  be  guilty  of  manufacturing  evidence  for  an  occasion 
of  this  sort.  [Cries  of  "  No,"  "no."]  I  have  borne  this  letter  with 
me  for  three  days,  but  thos^e  gentlemen  who  have  seceded  from  this 
Convention  placed  it  out  of  my  power  to  use  it.  And  the  re.'^ponsibili- 
ty,  therefore,  is  on  them. 

«  *  «  «  *  »  .  » 

We  in  the  North  have  one  sectional  party  to  fight,  and  intend  to 
whip  them.  You  have  an  equally  sectional  party  to  light  iu  the  Suuth, 
and  we  expect  you  to  whip  tliem.  When  the  election  conies  on  in  No- 
vember next,  we  shall  carry  a  majority  of  the  electoral  vote  of  the 
North,  and  we  expect  you  to  carry  a  majority  of  the  electoral  vote  of 
the  South. 

Mr.  Cessna  of  Pennsylvania — We  were  informed  upon  the  opening 
of  this  Convention  in  this  city,  by  our  late  highly  respected  and  most 
lamented  J)residing  oflBcer  [laughter],  that  when  we  adjourned  at 
Charleston  there  were  pending  three  motions  to  reconsider,  and  three 
motions  to  lay  those  motions  to  reconsider  on  the  table.  I  move  that ' 
the  question  be  now  taken  upon  those  motions. 

The  motion  was  agreed  to,  and  accordingly  the  several  motions  to  re- 
consider were  laid  on  the  table. 

The  usual  voles  of  thanks  were  passed.  Hon.  David  Todd  was 
thanked.  Railroads  were  thanked  for  half-fare  tickets.  The  police  of 
Baltimore  were  thanked. 

Th(.n  Mr.  Warwaek  of  Alabama  returned  thanks  for  the  nomination 
made  for  Vice-President,  and  pledged  the  eleetoial  vote  of  Alabama  for 
the  nominees  of  the  Convention.  It  was  here  announced  that  four 
States  had  seceded  from  the  Seceders'  Convention.  The  announcement 
was  received  with  much  applause.  It  was,  however,  a  mistake.  No 
such  secession  had  occurred. 

Mr.  Stuart  of  Michigan  proposed  to  adjourn,  go  into  the  field 
where  the  enemy  were  and   "conquer  them  in  a  hand-to-hand  fight." 

The  President  returned  thanks  for  the  vote  of  thanks,  and  con- 
cluded : 

We  have  only  to  continue  firmly,  nationally,  sternly,  fairly,  honora- 
bly in  the  discharge  of  our  duties,  as  we  have  done  since  we  met  at 
Charleston,  to  crown  our  efforts  with  entire  success. 

Wishing  you  all  a  safe  return  to  your  homes,  to  your  wives  and  chil- 
dren, and  God  grant  that  you  muy  all  have  them  at  home  waiting  for 
you,  I  now  declare  this  Convention  adjourned,  and  bid  you  adieu. 

The  hour  was  fifteen  minutes  to  ten  P.  M. 


217 


INSTITUTE  HALL  ("SECEDERS")  CONVENTION. 


After  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Gushing  from  the  Presidency  of  the  Con- 
vention in  the  theatre,  the  public  lost  interest  in  that  body.  There 
were  several  sensation  scenes  in  the  morning,  the  most  remarkable  of 
which  was  Mr.  Cushing  dropping  the  gavel  and  leaving  the  chair,  and 
Mr.  Todd  taking  his  place,  with  the  Convention  cheering  heartily.  But 
when  it  was  evident  to  all  that  the  Convention  would  nominate  Douglas, 
as  soon  as  the  remaining  delegates  should  exhaust  themselves  in  speech- 
making,  the  public  turned  toward  the  Maryland  Institute  (or  Market) 
Hall.  The  Hall  is  three  hundred  and  twenty  feet  long,  and  seventy 
broad,  with  galleries  running  entirely  around,  and  contains,  when  full 
hrfvery  part,  eight  thousand  persons.  The  galleries,  and  the  space 
on  the  floor  set  apart  for  outsiders,  were  quite  full  when  the  Conven- 
tion was  called  to  order. 

The  Baltimore  Sun  says  of  the  feeling  of  the  Seceding  delegates,  in 
coming  together  :  "  The  members  of  the  respective  delegations  entered 
freely  into  conversation.  All  restraint  of  feeling  had  disappeared,  and 
a  spirit  of  the  most  cordial  unanimity  and  harmony  characterized  every 
man  and  every  feature.  The  change  of  manner,  expression  and  senti- 
ment was  complete,  and  would  have  been  striking  and  remarkable,  but 
that  it  was  consistent  with  general  experience,  in  a  Democrafic  Conven- 
tion undisturbed  by  factitious  influences.  None  could  po.-sibly  fail  to 
realize  the  perfect  restoration  of  that  geniality  of  intercourse  which  is 
alone  the  earnest  of  a  harmonious  result." 

Mr.  Ewing  of  Tennessee  called  the  Convention  to  order,  and  an- 
nounced Mr.  Russell  of  Virginia  as  temporary  chairman  of  the  Con- 
vention. Messrs.  Featherson  of  Mississippi  and  Stevens  of  Oregon 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  escort  Mr.  Bussell  to  his  seat.  Mr. 
Russell  made  a  speech,  in  which  he  said  : 

The  Convention  assembled  elsewhere,  and  from  which  you  have  with- 
drawn, has  lost  all  title  to  the  designation  of  national.  [Applause.] 
It  cannot  longer  continue  to  perform  the  functions  of  a  National  Dem- 
ocratic Convention,  and  every  one  believes  that  all  true  Democrats  will 
unite  to  declare  it  unsound  in  national  relations.  You  and  those  who 
you  represent  are  a  majority  of  the  people  of  the  Democracy  and  of  the 
Democratic  States.  [Applause.]  They  will  look  to  you  to  perform 
the  functiiiTis  of  a  National  Democratic  Convention,  and  you  will  be  so 
recognized  alike  by  the  North  and  the  South,  the  East  and  the  West. 
[Cheers.] 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Ewing,  Messrs.  Crosby  of  Oregon  and  Johnson  of 
Maryland  were  selected  as  temporary  Secretaries. 

Mr.  Walker  of  Alabama  moved  the  appointment  of  a  committee  of 
15  on  Permanent  Organization.     Carried  unanimously. 


218 

Senator  Bayard  of  Delaware  moved  reconsideration,  as  the  number 
(ir>)  looked  sectional.  At  bis  suggestion,  the  committee  was  made  5 
instead  of  15. 

There  was  some  talk  about  filling  up  the  delegates'  seats,  there  being 
a  good  many  more  chairs  than  delegates.  This  was  quieted,  however. 
The  following  was  refjorted  as  the  cuinuiittee  on  Organization  : 

Walker  <tf  Alabama,  Mcllenry  of  Pennsylvania.  Stevens  of  Oregon, 
Wilii:iins  of  Massachusetts,  and  John  Dishinun  of  Kentucky. 

The  Convention  took  a  reco.^s,  and  there  were  cries  among  the  spec- 
tators for  a  speech  from  Yancey. 

ETENINQ    SESSION. 

The  chairman  of  each  delegation  was  requested  to  hand  to  the  Sec- 
retary a  list  of  the  delegates  from  his  State. 

The  Secretary  proceeded  to  call  the  roll  of  the  States,  when  the  fol- 
lowing responses  were  made : 

Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  Ohio,  Indiana, 
Illinois,  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota — no  delegates. 

Vermont — One  delegate. 

Mas.sachtisetts — S  xteen  delegates.     [Immense  cheering.] 

New  York — Two  delegates.      [Cheers.] 

Pennsylvania — Please  pass  Pennsylvania  for  the  present  —  she  is 
here.     [Cheers  ]  , 

New  Jersey — No  representative. 

Delaware  is  here — pass  her  for  the  present. 

Virginia — She  is  here  with  twenty-three  delegates. 

North  Carolina — She  is  here  with  sixteen  delegates.     [Applause.] 

Alabama  is  here  with  a  full  delegation — thirty-tix  delegates. 

Mississippi — A  full  delegation  of  fourteen. 

Louisiana — A  full  delegation  ;  fourteen. 

Texas — All  here  ;  eight  delegates. 

Arkansas — A  full  delegation,  nine  in  number. 

Missouri — Two  delegates. 

Tennessee — We  have  nineteen  delegates  here. 

Kentucky — Ten  delegates. 

Iowa — Mr.  II.  II.  Heath  presented  a  document  with  relation  to  a 
representation  of  that  State  on  the  floor  of  this  Convention.      [Cheers.] 

California — The  entire  delegation  of  that  State  is  here  as  a  unit. 

Oregon — She  is  here  as  a  unit. 

Maryland — Maryland  is  here  with  nine  of  her  delegation. 

South  Carolina — No  representatives. 

Florida — Six  delegates.      [Apfdause.] 

Mr.  Johnson  stated  he  was  uuihorized  to  state  in  behalf  of  the  Hon. 
Senator  Bayard  of  Delaware,  who  was  called  to  Washington  on  press- 
ing business,  tliat  he  was  with  this  Convention  in  sentiment  and  heart, 
and  wiiuld  cordially  sustain  its  nominee.      [Apphmse.] 

There  was  so  much  confusion  in  the  hall,  that  the  process  of  calling 
delegaticms  was  tedious.  There  were  many  prominent  Southern  men  in 
the  hall,  among  them  Senator  Toombs,  whose  dark,  lowering  face  .seemed 


219 

for  once  lit  up  with  good  cheer.  The  leading  Southerners  of  the  dele- 
gations smiled  radiantly.  I  had  not  seen  them  look  so  happy  during 
the  sixteen  weary  days  of  the  Convention,  and  the  two  days'  episode  at 
Richmond.  Yancey,  who  always  wears  a  surface  smile,  twi.sted  about 
in  his  seat  with  the  unrest  of  intolerable  felicity,  laid  his  he.id  first  upon 
one  shoulder  and  then  upon  the  other,  and  glowed  with  satisfaction. 
Garnett,  of  Virginia,  whose  countenance  is  usually  grave  as  Don 
Quixote's,  seemed  pleased  as  a  school-boy  with  new  boots.  The  great 
body  of  those  collected  as  spectators  were  manifestly  favorable  to  the 
movement.  The  same  public  feeling  apparent  at  Charleston  in  favor  of 
the  Seceders,  came  out  in  less  degree  here.  It  was  a  feeling  of  sec- 
tional pride,  and  a  loyalty  to  the  Southern  leaders,  thut  is  superior  to 
convictions  of  either  principle  or  expediency. 

Mr.  Walker  of  Alabama,  from  the  committee  on  Organization,  was 
authorized  to  report  the  following  as  the  permanent  ofiBcers  of  this  Coa- 
vention  : 

PRESIDENT. 

Hon.  CALEB  GUSHING,  of  Massachusetts. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

V.  L.  Bradford.  Pennsylvania.  H.  E.  Stonghton,  Vermont. 

O.  K.  Fiinsteii,  Virginia.  M.  J.  McElliaiit'y.  Missouri. 

A.  P.  Deaisou,  Oregon.  Richard  Taylor,  Louisiana. 

J.  E.  Dresbit,  California.  R.  G.  Scott,  Alabama. 

J.  O.  C.  Alliiiis,  Tennessee.  Josiah  Gould,  Arkansas. 

J.  S.  Kenrick.  Kentucky.  W.  P.  Bowie,  Maryland. 

Bradford  Brown,  North  Carolina.  AV.  H.  Ross,  Delaware. 

W.  F.  Featberston,  Mississippi.  H.  M.  Hunni^ls,  Texas. 

H.  S.  Beuning,  Georgia.  B.  F.  Wardlaw.  Florida. 

Secketaries— W.  H.  Croeley,  Oregon  ;  W.  P.  Cooper.  Virginia  ;  E  S.  F. 
Haideastle,  Maryland  ;  N.  H.  R.  Dawson,  Alabama  ;  Thos.  P.  Ocbiitree,  Texas  ; 
J.  J.  Williams,  Florida  ;  F.  West,  Georgia  ;  F.  W.  Hoadley,  Arkansas;  W.  G. 
Wbiteley,  Delaware  ;  David  Fist,  Pennsylvania;  C.  J.  Armistead,  Mississippi ; 
S.  W.  Humphrey,  North  Carolina  ;  D.  D.  Withers,  Tennessee. 

The  name  of  Caleb  Gushing  was  received  with  applause  that  remind- 
ed me  of  Chicago  Hats  and  handkerchiefs  were  waved  all  around  the 
great  circle  of  the  galleries,  and  over  the  heads  of  the  crowds  upon  the 
floor.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  Mr.  Cushing.  The 
committee  did  not  have  far  to  proceed  to  find  that  gentleman,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  were  seen  escorting  him  down  the  long  passage,  fenced 
from  the  multitude  with  settees  leading  from  the  door  to  the  seats  re- 
served for  the  delegates  and  the  platform.  Cushing's  person  has,  du- 
ring his  Presidency  over  the  deliberations  of  the  Convention,  become 
very  well  known.  He  was  therefore  instantly  recognized  by  hundreds, 
and  his  familiar  blue  coat  and  brass  buttons,  his  Wehsterian  garments 
and  C;e-arian  head,  were  bailed  with  extraordinary  acclamation.  He 
marched  through  a  lane  of  yelling  Southeiners,  hats  whirling,  and 
handkerchiefs  waving  over  his  head,  while  the  occupants  of  the  galleries 
leaned  forward,  and  shouted  and  clapped  their  bauds,  swung  their  hats, 
fluttered  handkercheifs,  and  as  he  mounted  the  platform,  Mr.  Russell 
of  Virginia  took  him  by  the  hand,  the  Convention  and  crowd  gave  him 


220 

three  cheers,  and  31  r.  R.  mcntiooed  that  be  "resumed''  bis  seat  as 
ehaifwan  of  tbe  National  Democratic  CoovcotioD. 

Mr.  CofebiDg.  after  aniiou?ly  ioqairing  of  tb*  Secretaries  bow  many 
States  were  represeott-d.  said  : 

Gentlemen  of  tbe  Convention — we  a?sen)Me  bere,  delegates  to  tbe 
National  Dfroocra'ic  Convention  [applause],  duly  accredittd  tbereto 
finom  more  tbao  twenty  States  of  tbe  Union  [applause],  for  tbe  purpose 
of  nominating  csndi'iates  of  tbe  Democratic  party  for  tbe  offices  of 
President  and  Vice-President  of  tbe  United  States — for  tbe  purfKj«e  of 
anaooDcing  tbe  principles  of  tbe  party,  and  for  tbe  purpo^  of  continuing 
and  re-es'aibli>bing  tbat  party  upon  tbe  firm  foundation  of  tbe  Constitu- 
tion, tbe  Union  and  tbe  co-equal  rights  of  tbe  several  Slates.    [Applause.] 

Gentlemen,  the  Convention  is  in  order  for  business. 

Every  word  rung  through  the  immense  hall,  and  the  familiar  sound 
of  his  vo'ce  certainly  gave  the  Convention  tbe  tone  of  regularity. 

Mr.  Loring  of  Massachusetts  moved  that  a  committee  of  one  from 
each  State  be  appointed  as  a  committee  on  Credentials  to  decide  tbe 
qualification  of  members  to  seats  on  this  floor. 

Mr.  Johnson  of  Maryland  moved  as  an  amendment,  tbat  the  creden- 
tials be  referred  to  the  committee  on  Credentials  as  that  ccimmittee 
stood  at  tbe  last  meeting  of  this  Convention.     [Applause  ] 

Mr  Loring — I  accept  tbe  amendment.  I  bad  forgotten.  I  move, 
therefore,  that  tbe  c-ommittee  on  Crer^entials  be  requested  to  examine 
and  rep<^trt  on  tbe  credentials  of  members. 

A  communication  was  received  from  H.  H.  Heath  of  Dubuque.  Iowa, 
and  John  Johns  of  Davenj.>ort,  Iowa.  These  gentlemen  wore  desirous 
tbat  the  National  Democracy  of  Iowa  should  have  a  representation  on 
that  floor.  They  did  not  claim  to  be  regular  delegates,  but  a^ked  seats 
on  tbe  floor  with  "  tbe  right  of  mutual  conference  and  consultation." 
The  document  was  referred  to  tbe  committee  on  Credentiab. 

Mr.  Atkins  of  Tennessee  wanted  lusioefs  despatched.  There  was 
no  reas^'U  why  all  tbe  business  could  not  be  accomplisbed  before  ad- 
journing. 

Mr.  Butler  of  Slassacbusetts  moved  that  tbe  members  of  the  com- 
mittee on  Resolutions  be  requested  to  report  a  platform  forthwith.  He 
resigned  his  pl^ce  on  tbe  a>mmittee,  and  Hon.  B.  F.  Ilallett  (••  Author 
Cincinnati  Platform")  was  substituted. 

3Ir.  JohnKin  of  Maryland  moved  the  adoption  at  once,  without  refer- 
ence to  a  committee,  of  that  which  was  known  as  the  majority  platform 
reported  at  Charleston. 

Mr.  Lubbock  of  Texas  deprecated  these  bapty  proceedings.  The 
committee  on  Credentials  bad  not  reported  Care  f-hould  be  taken  to 
do  the  work  well.  He  conscientiou.'-ly  VK-lieved  the  nominees  of  that 
Convention  would  be  elected  Prc.>-ident  and  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States. 

Mr.  Hunter  of  Louisiana  presented  the  following  resolution : 

Rmoloed.  Tbat  tbe  deie^tes  to  tbe  Richmond  Convention  be  rcqiiCFtod  to 
ooitv  »itb  ih'ir  brt-lhnn  of  the  National  DcinfKrraticConvenlion.  now  as-v  mbled 
at  tbe  Marylaud  la^tiuit^-  Hall,  on  tbe  same  platform  of  principles  with  tbem- 
•elvea,  if  llt«j  fe«l  aatborized  to  do  so. 


22t 

Mr.  Loring  of  Maasachoaette  moved  that  tbe  resoIatioD  be  amended 
so  as  to  read  '"  tbe  delegates  from  South  Carolina  and  Florida  accredited 
to  RicbmoDd,"  and  he  did  so  at  the  reqaest  of  those  delegates.  [Ap- 
plause.] 

Mr.  Russell  eugjested  a  committee  of  one  from  each  State,  to  name 
candidates  for  President  and  Vice-President,  to  be  Toted  for  by  the  Cod- 
TentioD. 

Mr.  Howard  of  Tennessee  objected — and  Mr.  Bussell  withdrew  his 
motion. 

ilr.  Fisher  ol  Virginia  offered  tbe  following  resolution : 

Raoi^ei.  That  a  committt«  be  appointed  by  the  President  of  (fa«  CoareatioB, 
coDsisticig  of  tire  twrnlx-i^.  to  ad^vee  the  DeBocnej  of  the  UnioQ  npoa  the 
p^iIlcipk^  which  have  gorerntd  this  bodr  in  Twalring  fte  noaiitatioa  of  Pteii 
dent  and  Vic«r-PresideDt.  aod  in  viBdicatioQ  of  tlie  priaeiples  of  the  party. 

Mr.  Howard  of  Tennessee  n>ove<i  that  tbe  President  of  this  Conven- 
tion be  chairman  of  that  committee.  3Ir.  Howard  put  tbe  question,  and 
declared  it  carried  unanimously.     [Applause.] 

The  President — I  will  appoint  the  committee  at  my  earliest  eonveni- 
ence. 

It  was  suggested,  that  wbik  tbe  report  rf  the  eoannittce  on  Creden- 
tials wa5  being  prepared  a  little  bosiiiess  night  be  done.  80  it  was  de- 
creed that  a  *'  National  Executive  Committee  of  the  Dem'^'Cratic-  party" 
should  be  appointed,  and  that  the  next  Convention  should  be  held  in  the 
city  of  Philadelphia. 

31r.  Stevens  of  Oregon,  chairman  of  the  committee  on  Credentials. 
reported  tbe  following  duly  accredited  members  as  in  attendance  : 

▼IX6IVU.  tioDt»%mt»  tew  left  tlw  citf .  aai  as  Oey 

J.  Kmiicd,  M.  W.  Fisber,  Geofse  BMker,  i  **  ™*?  ^^  C«Bwe«Una,  ttey  *»  ■•<  M 
.foaesBailKV.JokBSeddaa,  Levis  K.Har-    "™*2***^?55??^ ?■  "^ 


via,  WiUna  F.  Tkoapaoa,  Dlmj  P.  Car-  P™eee*Hg8  sT  this  kadj.] 

R.Fnsti»,  Walter  D.  Leake,  Wm.  P.  Cecfl.  cAtHwaiA. 

Eohert  Ooctet*.  Joh«  BrtMif,  Hewy  Fitx-  An*B  K.  SHih,  D.  S.  GresaiT, -Mm  ▲. 

kagh,  Robert  A.  CogkiU,  P.  B  Joms,  K.  W.  Drei^his ;  Chas  L  Seott,  froxr  &r  6.  W. 

Hobud,  Walter  Coles,  Wau  H.  Claik.  K.  H.  Piiariek:  E-F. I  iiiRinr ,  i»wrj  fw^ L.  E-  fca*- 


ler:  6.  L.    DaAey.pnxr  tar  Joka 
Calha—  Bf  BhiM, prary  tw^ iai«  S.  !»■« f|r. 
"~"*"^  ioks  BUweQ  iwm*'*  &  J-  nfriry  hie 

BewyE.  iaekaaa,  J.  T.frwni.  ^mj  L.  ,  pw^r,  fcrt  ■either  af  ae«  a«  het*. 


SdoMoo  Cohen.  Joha  W.  H.  Us- 
4enraod,  Frederick  B.  West.  T.  BcOer  K^, 
Mfaa  HartiMee,  Hn^  M.  MoOTc  JohM  A.  t  waba  T.  HHriMaa,  Jota  Oaatee,  Le«te 
iooes.  Jaises  M.  Ci&rk.  Nel«oa  Tift.  T.  J.  WaoUwA.  Joka  E.  ITmsij.  S.  L  F.  Hav«- 
MeCekee.  J.  C.  C»wa.  P.  Tracer.  E.  L.  Sfao-  castle.  Daniel  FJeiis,  UnOtf  T.  fifciiii. 
kfirVrr.  Tboesas  W.  O.  HiU.  Wm.  PbiUips,    WiUiaai  D.  Bowie,  Barrffle  Stfukwy. 

JSMBS  M.  Baravril,  G.  J.  Fam,  Le-wis  T«b-  i  

liiB.JamesBoee,li«AJokBSt<M,H.B.Tho»l  mrHTLTAnx. 

M,hwB»Jackaoa.Ja»e«  A.  SleJIg*,  Ortora  |  W.  M.  E«St.  ▼  L.  BradftnC  Geo.  M.  Hes- 
T.  Eoeets.  Joka  A.  Cobb.  DavW  C.  BanoT,  !  „.  E.  C.  BraBS,  Gee.  H.  Maxaa.  H.  A.  G  w». 
H.  C.  Fulton.  s^T.  H^  Laaer.  H.  H.  Deaft.  A.  J  Glmina 

xxw  TOkK.  ^^'^-  ^^^>oM  PlavMer.  H.  E.  Svair.  IlMii 

,  Finer. 


Aagastes  Sck^. — 

(Not*.— ^Sereral  of  tke 
State  of  Ne«  Torkaieia 
«al  syayatkT  witk  tke  ■igeett  aa4 
«r  ttii  CocTeiiQoB :  b«t  as  mmj  of  thev 


E.  A.  Baater.  Eiekard  Tajisr,  E.  f  ■■!■. 
Joka  Taiieia*.  F.  H  Hatck,  D.  D.  Witken. 
E.aDowa».J.G.Pt«tt,F.  H.  Taipii.  X.  H. 

New,  B.  MiU&ee. 


'  Ihis  it  the  M*e  ef  tta  Bapsftv  «r  the 


222 


MISSISSIPPI. 

Georire  U.  Gordmi,  Charles  Clark,  E.  Barks- 
dale,  W.  S.  Barry,  W.  S.  Wilson,  W.  S. 
Fcatherston,  H.  C.  Chambers,  Joseph  W. 
Mathews,  0.  G.  Arniistead.  B.  Maltliews,  P. 
F.  Liddell,  Joseph  R.  Davis,  Wirt  Adams 
Alexander  M.  Clayton. 

ORBOON. 

Lansing  Stout,  J.  F.  Lamerick,  Isaac  Ste- 
vens. Justis  Steinberger,  H  R.  Crosbee,  A. 
P.  Deanison. 

MINNESOTA. 

R.  M.  Johnson. 

NORTH    CAROLINA. 

Wm.  Landis,  W.  W.  Avery,  Lotte  W. 
Huniphrevs.  John  Walker,  Samuel  llarg^rave, 
James  Fulton  Samuel  P.  Hill,  T.  J.  Green, 
Columbus  Mills,  W.  S  Ashe,  C  H.  Foster. 
Bedford  J.  Brown,  R.  R.  Biidges,  W.  A. 
Moore,  W.  S.  Steele. 


James  B.  Owens,  W.  D.  Barnes,  Joseph 
John  Williams,  B.  F.  Wardlaw.Geo.  W.  Call, 
Charles  E.  Dyke,  N.  Baker. 

TENNESSEE. 

Samuel  Milligan,  Wm.  A.  Quarles.  J.  D.  C. 
Atkins,  W.L.  McClelland.  Alfred  Robb,  James 
D.  Thomas.  Dainel  Uonelson,  Thomas  Meii- 
iers,  John  D.  Riley,  J.  B  Lamb,  H.  F.  Cum- 
mins, R.  Matthews,  F.  C.  Dunnincton.  John 
McGavoch,  11.  W.  Wail,  Andrew  Ewing,  R. 
D.  Powell,  John  K.  Howard,  C.  Vaughne. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Caleb  Gushing,  James  S.  Whitney,  W.  C. 


N  Swift.  P.  W.  Leland,  Alexander  Lincoln, 
Bradford  L.  Wales,  Isaac  H.  Wright.  James 
Riley,  Benjamin  F  Hallett.  George  B  Loring, 

E.  S.  Williams,  George  Johi.SDn,   Benjamin 

F.  Butler,  Abijah  W.  Chapin,  David  W.  Car- 
peiiter,  Reuben  Noble. 

ABKANaAS. 

J.  p.  Johnson,  De  Rosig  Carroll,  Robert 
W.  Johnson,  T.  C.  Hindnian,  John  A.  Jor- 
dan, John  J.  Stirman,  Jobiah  Gould,  Van  H. 
Manning,  F.  W.  Iluadley. 

KENTUCKY. 

Richard  M.  J.  Mason,  Lafayette  Green, 
James  G.  Leach.  John  Lishman.  Cc  11j(  rt  Ce- 
cil, James  B.  Beck,  D.  W.  Quarles.  Robert 
Gale,  Robert  M.  Kcan,  John  S.  Kcndicks. 

ALABAMA. 

L.  p.  Walker,  A  B.  Meek.  H.  D.  Smith,  W. 
L.  Yancey.  F.  S  Lyon,  W.  M  Brooks,  R.  G. 
Scott,  J  W.  Portis,  N.  H  R.  Dawson.  T.  J. 
Burnett,  Eli  S  Shorter.  J.  C.  B.  Mitchell,  W. 
C.  Penick,  A.  S.  Van  de  Graff  L  M.  Stone, 
John  Erwin,  G.  D.  Johnston,  F  G.  Norman, 
John  E.  Moore,  E.  W.  Kennedy.  Robert  T. 
Scott,  R.  Chapman,  Winfield  Mason.  Alex- 
arder  Snodgrass,  J.  T.  Bradford,  W.  P. 
Browue,  W.  11.  Forney,  D.  W.  Bozcman. 


Guv  M  Br\'an.  U.  R.  Runnels,  F.  S.  Stock- 
dale.  F.  R  Lubbock.  J.  F.  Crosby,  Tom.  P. 
Ochiltree. 


C.  J.  Carwin,  W.J.  Mcllhiney. 


It  was  recommended  that  the  delegates  from  Iowa  have  conipliment- 
ary  tickets  to  the  Convention,  without  lenve  to  participate  in  its  pioceed- 
ing.«.      The  Credential  report  was  adopted  unanimously. 

Mr.  Avery  of  North  Carolina,  frotn  the  committee  on  Platform,  re- 
ported the  following,  being  the  majority  Platform  of  the  Cbaiieston 
committee : 

Resolved,  That  the  platform  adopted  by  the  Domocralic  party  at  Cincinnati,  be 
affirmed,  with  tlu>  fniiowiiip;  exphiiiatory  rcsohitioiiR  : 

1st.  JUsnlial,  That  the  govcmirfnt  of  a  'i'crritory  orj^anizcd  by  an  act  ofCon- 
prcfis,  is  piovisionai  and  teinporai'y  ;  and  dnrinir  its  cxistt'iicc.  all  citizi'iis  ot  the 
United  Slates  iiavi-  an  equal  riiilit  to  settle  \\  itii  their  property  in  tiie  Territory, 
without  tiieir  rif;hls  either  of  person  or  proj)erty  being  destroy* d  or  inipaiitd  by 
Congressional  or  Territorial  legislation. 

2d.  hemlted,  Thiit  it  is  the  dnty  of  the  Federal  Government,  in  ail  its  depart- 
ments, to  protect,  when  necessary,  liie  rights  ot  pirsons  and  |)rtipi  rty  in  the  Ter- 
ritories, and  wherever  else  its  constitutional  anthoiiiy  e.xteiids. 

3d.  yiV.vo/iw/,  That  when  setlhi-s  in  a  Territory  having  an  ad(cniate  popula- 
tion, form  a  State  Conptitufion.  the  rights  ofsovireignly  eommene<  s.  and,  being 
consnmniatid  by  admission  into  the  Union,  they  stand  on  an  Kpial  fooling  with 
the  people  of  oiler  States  ;  and  the  i^tate  Ihns  organi/.i  d  ought  to  be  admitted 
into  the  Fed  nil  Union,  whether  its  constitution  prohibits  or  recognizes  the  in.sti- 
tution  of  slavery. 

4Ui.  Jlcsidiid,  That  the  Democratic  party  arc  in  favor  of  the  acquisition  of  the 
Island  of  Cuba,  on  such  terms  as  shall  be  honorable  to  oursolvts  and  just  to 
Spain,  at  the  earliest  praeticuble  moment. 

oLh.     Ilexolced,  That  the  cnaclineuts  of  State  Legislatures  to  defeat  the  faithful 


223 

execution  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  law,  are  hostile  in  character  to  and  subversive  of 
the  Constitution,  and  revolutionary  in  their  eit'ect. 

6th.  Resolved,  That  the  Democracy  of  the  United  Slates  recofrnizcs  it  as  an 
imperative  duty  of  this  Government  to  protect  naturalized  citizens  in  all  their 
rights,  whether  at  home  or  in  foreign  lauds,  to  the  same  extent  as  its  native-born 
citizens. 

And  whereas,  one  of  the  greatest  necessities  of  the  age.  in  a  political,  com- 
mercial, postal  and  military  point  of  view,  is  speedy  communication  between 
the  Pacific  and  Atlantic  coasts,  therefore  be  it 

7th.  Resolved,  That  the  National  Democratic  party  do  hereby  pledge  them- 
selves to  use  every  means  in  their  power  to  secure  the  pas^age  of  some  bill  to 
the  extent  of  the  constitutional  authority  of  Congress  for  the  constrnction  of  a 
Pacific  Railroad  from  the  Mississippi  River  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  at  the  earliest 
practicable  moment. 

Mr.  Avery  moved  the  previous  question  upon  this  platform,  and  it 
was  adopted  without  dissent. 

Mr.  Mathews  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was  adopted: 

That  the  National  Committee  shall  not  issue  tickets  to  the  floor  of  the  Con- 
vention in  any  case  where  there  is  a  boiia  fide  contestant. 

Mr.  Greene  of  North  Carolina  moved  "That  all  Constitutional  Detri- 
ocrats  of  such  States  as  are  not  at  present  represented,  be  lequested  to 
unite  in  the  organizition,  and  form  an  Electoral  College  in  favor  of  the 
election  of  the  nominees  of  this  Convention." 

Mr.  Henderson  moved  to  strike  out  the  word  "Constitutional,"  and 
substitute  "  National,"  which  was  agreed  to. 

Mr.  Barksdale  moved  to  proceed  to  the  nomination  of  candidates  for 
the  Presidency  and  Vice-Presidency. 

So  the  Convention  went  on,  harmoniously  as  a  Ptepublican  Conven- 
tion where  the  party  is  in  a  minority.  The  pressure  to  transact  busi- 
ness was  overpowering. 

If  a  delegate  spoke  for  five  minutes,  he  would  see  many  anxious  in- 
dications of  iin patience,  that  would  not  long  tolerate  him.  The  only 
clog  upon  business  was  a  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  casting  of 
votes.  The  question  was  whether  a  delegate  from  a  Congres.*ional 
District,  whose  colleague  was  absent,  should  cast  one  vote  or  one-half  a 
vote. 

The  rule  of  voting  adopted  at  Charleston  and  Cincinnati  prevailed. 

The  President  stated  that  a  telegraphic  message  had  just  been  put 
into  his  haiuls  from  the  members  of  the  State  of  Minnesota  at  the 
Charle.-ton  Convention,  desiring  that  Richard  M.  Johnson  should  ca.st 
their  vote.     The  despatch  was  signed  by  Messrs.  Baker  and  Egerton. 

Tbe  committee  on  Credentials  had  recommended  "  that  the  rules 
and  roouhitions  adopted  by  the  National  Democratic  Convention  of 
1852  and  1850,  be  adopted  by  this  Convention  for  its  government, 
with  this  qualification — that  no  nomination  shall  be  considered  as  made 
unless  the  candidate  receives  two-thirds  of  the  voles  of  the  States  rep- 
resented by  this  Convention." 

The  committee  had  further  recommended  "  that  each  delegate  cast 
the  vote  to  which  he  is  entitled  in  this  Convention,  and  each  State  shall 
only  cast  the  number  of  votes  to  which  it  may  be  entitled  by  actual 
representation  in  this  Convention." 


224 

Under  these  rules  the  Convention  proceeded  to  the  nomination  of 
candidates  for  the  Presidency  and  Vice-Presidency.  Mr.  Loring  of 
Massachusetts  made  a  speech.     He  said  : 

We  have  seen  the  statesmen  of  Mississippi  coming  into  our  own  bor- 
ders, and  fearlessly  defending  their  principles,  aye,  and  bringing  the 
sectionalism  of  the  North  at  their  feet  by  their  gallantry.  We  have  ad- 
miration for  this  courage,  and  I  tru6t  to  live  by  it  and  be  governed  by 
it.  Among  all  these  men  to  whom  we  have  been  led  to  listen,  and  ad- 
mire, and  repeat,  there  is  one  standing  pre-eminently  before  this  coun- 
try— a  young  and  gallant  son  of  the  South. 

And  he  named  John  C.  Breckenridge,  which  name  was  received 
with  a  grand  uproar  of  applause  that  signified  his  nomination. 

Mr.  Denny  of  Pennsylvania  seconded  the  nomination. 

Mr.  Ward  of  Alabama  begged  leave  "to  put  in  nomination  a  distin- 
guished son  of  the  old  commonwealth  of  the  State  of  Virginia — R.  M. 
Hunter — as  our  representative  man.  He  has  fought  the  battle  for 
twenty-five  years,  and  has  stamped  the  impress  of  principle  upon  the 
great  Democratic  party  of  his  country." 

Mr.  f^wing  of  Tennesse  put  in  nomination  Daniel  S.  Dickinson  of 
New  York,  and  said  : 

Mr.  Webster,  who  was  opposed  to  him,  said  he  could  not  leave  the 
Senate  without  paying  a  tribute  to  the  patriotism  and  dignity  of  charac- 
ter, as  a  gentleman  and  as  a  statesman,  of  Mr.  Dickinson.  Webster 
now  sleeps  with  his  fathers,  but  his  judgment  remains,  and  it  was  the 
impartial  judgment  of  a  man  who  was  able  to  judge,  and  who  was  an 
opponent. 

Mr.  Stevens  of  Oregon  named  the  "  Marion  of  the  Mexican  War." 
He  said  : 

We  have  tried  him,  and  know  him  as  a  statesman  and  as  a  man 
of  honor — we  know  him  as  a  man  of  experience,  and  we  know  him  as  a 
man  ruled  by  the  Constitution  under  which  we  live.  I  beg  leave, 
therefore,  to  present  to  this  Convention  the  name  of  General  Joseph 
Lane  of  Oregon. 

Mr.  Matthews  of  Mississippi  spoke  of  "  the  orator,  warrior,  states- 
man and  lawyer,  Jefferson  Davis,"  but  for  the  sake  of  harmony  with- 
held his  name. 

Mr.  Russell  of  Virginia,  after  consulting  with  his  delegation,  re- 
quested x\labama  to  withdraw  the  name  of  Hunter. 

Mr.  Ward  of  Alabama  complied,  expressing  his  "  profound  admira- 
tion "  for  the  bearing  of  Virginia. 

The  roll  of  Slates  was  then  called.     The  result  was : 

B'or  Breckenridge — Vermont  2,  Massachusetts  8,  Pennsylvania  4, 
Maryland  li,  Virginia  II5,  Georgia  10,  Florida  3,  Alabama  9,  Louis- 
iana 0,  Mississippi  7,  Texas  4,  Arkansas^  4,  Kentucky  41,  Minnesota  1, 
California  4,  Oregon  3 — 81. 

For  Dickinson — New  York  2,  Maryland  3,  North  Carolina  85,  Mis- 
souri  1,  Tennessee  Oj — 24 

The  States  that  had  voted  for  Dickinson  one  after  another  changed 
to  Breckenridge,  who  was  then  declared  unanimously  nominated. 


225 

During  the  ballot  for  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency,  Mr.  Bartlett 
of  New  York  said  : 

I  came  into  the  delegation  of  the  State  of  New  York,  under  the 
rule  passed  by  the  Democratic  State  Convention  of  that  State.  But  it 
did  not  take  me  long  to  discover  what  the  game  was,  after  one  day's 
session  in  that  delegation.  I  was  satisfied  in  my  own  mind  that  the 
slate  had  been  filled,  and,  therefore,  I  was  placed,  like  many  others  of 
my  colleagues,  in  the  minority  of  that  delegation ;  and  upon  all  ques- 
tions, and  especially  upon  the  adoption  of  the  majority  report  on  Cre- 
dentials, in  which  we  had  a  long  contest,  the  line  was  strictly  drawn, 
and  there  was  thirty  on  one  side  and  forty  on  the  other. 

He  also  made  an  eloquent  appeal  for  the  Union.  .^ 

Mr.  Green  of  North  Carolina  rose  and  proposed  Hon.  Joseph  Lane 
of  Oregon,  as  Vice-President,  which  was  seconded  by  the  California 
delegation,  and,  on  a  call  of  the  States,  unanimously  agreed  to. 

When  the  cheering  subsided,  there  was  a  general  call  for  "  Yancey  " 
"Yancey" — and  that  gentleman  stepped  forward  upon  the  platform, 
and  had  a  reception  of  the  most  flattering  character.  He  is  a  square 
built  middle-sized  gentleman,  with  a  decided  stoop  in  the  shoulders. 
His  hair  is  a  light  brown,  and  his  eyes  large  and  gray.  His  face  is  pe- 
culiar, and  without  striking  features,  though  closely  observed  it  is  seen 
to  be  the  face  of  an  intense  and  powerful  man,  having  an  expression  of 
concentration,  and  a  good-natured  sort  of  pluck.  His  style  of  dress  is 
that  of  a  tidy  business  man,  and  his  manners  frank  and  unassuming  as 
those  of  a  boy.  There  is  not  the  slightest  symptom  of  the  fanatic 
about  him.  His  convictions  are  evidently  not  disturbed  for  a  moment, 
nor  is  his  confidence  in  himself  by  any  means  depressed  by  the  vicisi- 
tudes  of  a  doubtful  controversy.  In  the  midst  of  the  most  exciting 
scenes  he  is  placid  in  appearance  and  so  thoroughly  conversant  with  bis 
purpose,  that  he  is  at  perfect  ease.  The  smile  that  he  wears  amid  the 
acclamations  of  a  multitude  of  admirers  would  hardly  darken  a  shade 
at  the  hootings  of  an  exasperated  mob.  But  you  do  not  know  him 
until  you  have  heard  him  speak.  His  voice  is  clear  as  a  bugle-note, 
and  at  the  same  time  singularly  blended  with  its  music  is  a  sharp  high 
metallic  ring,  like  that  of  a  triangle  of  steel.  This  peculiar  voice,  al- 
ways clear  and  sharp,  pierces  to  a  great  distance,  and  would  instantly 
command  attention  in  any  assembly.  He  speaks  with  great  animation 
of  gesture  with  his  arms,  meanwhile  walking  quietly  up  and  down  the 
platform.  Upon  commencing  a  particular  branch  of  his  subject,  he 
straightens  himself  with  an  eflfort,  stands  perfectly  erect,  and  pulls  up 
his  coat-sleeves.  As  he  proceeds  in  the  demonstration,  he  moves  toward 
the  edge  of  the  platform  and  leaning  forward,  indicates  the  progress  he 
is  making  by  exclamation  points  given  with  the  index  finger  of  his  right 
hand  upon  the  palm  of  the  left.  As  he  clinches  the  proposition  he 
leans  forward  until  poised  upon  the  toes  of  his  boots,  his  right  arm  ex- 
tended and  pointing  into  the  heart  of  the  matter,  and  then  usually  as 
he  rebounds,  he  throws  off  sportively  as  it  were  a  graceful  climax  of 
rhetoric ;  and  is  ready  for  the  next  point. 

Mr.  Yancey  commenced  his  speech  on  this  occasion,  by  saying:  Mr. 
President  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Convention — The  storm  clouds  of  faction 
1.5 


226 

have  ilriftccl  away,  and  the  sunliglit  of  principle,  under  tlic  Constitution, 
and  of  the  Union  under  the  Constitution,  sliines  lirightly  upon  tlio  Na- 
tional Democracy.  He  declared  that  tlie  Democracy,  the  Constitution, 
and  through  them  the  Union,  •were  yet  safe.  In  definir^g  his  position  in 
regard  to  the  Union,  he  said  :  I  am,  however,  no  worshiper  at  the 
slirine  of  the  Union.  I  am  no  Union  shrieker.  I  meet  great  questions 
fairly,  on  their  own  merits.  I  do  not  try  to  drown  the  judgment  of  tho 
people  by  shrieking  for  the  Union.  I  am  neither  for  tho  Union  nor 
against  the  Union — neither  for  disunion  nor  against  disunion.  I  urge 
or  oppose  measures  upon  the  ground  of  their  constitutionality  and  wisdom 
or  tlic  reverse. 

lie  said  of  Mr.  Douglas :  But  I  will  let  Mr.  Douglas  rest  where  his 
friends  have  placed  him,  contending,  however,  that  they  have  buried  hira 
to-day  beneath  the  grave  of  squatter  sovereignty.  The  nomination  that 
was  made  (I  speak  it  prophetically),  was  made  to  be  defeated  and  it 
is  bound  to  be  defeated. 

Mr.  Yancey  reviewed  very  clearly,  the  scriptural  and  historical  refer- 
ences made  in  the  Douglas  Convention  by  Mr.  Green  of  Ky.,  respecting 
the  few  righteous  men  of  Sodom,  and  by  Mr.  Claiborne  of  Missouri,  who 
introduced  the  story  of  Lord  James  Douglas  and  the  heart  of  Bruce. 

And  with  all  Mr.  Yancey's  power,  it  is  due  the  truth  to  say  that  he 
was  guilty  of  that  terrible  offense  on  such  an  occasion — too  much  speak- 
ing— and  contrived  to  use  up  very  handsomely  the  brilliant  reputation 
with  which  he  came  to  Baltimore,  as  an  orator  of  the  first  order,  and  a 
man  of  wonderful  ability,  perfect  tact,  and  fascinating  address.  He  has 
great  and  glittering  qualities,  but  the  Baltimoreans  had  over-estimated 
him.  His  speech  was  a  disenchanter.  He  was  not  calculated  to  assist 
his  party  at  all,  but  rather  to  place  embarrassments  in  its  way.  He 
denied  being  a  disunionist,  but  his  talk  respecting  the  Union  did  not  in- 
dicate any  warmth  of  affection  for  our  common  nationality.  It  was  very 
calculating,  and  to  the  man  who  loves  the  Union  for  itself,  and  entertains 
a  sentiment  of  national  pride,  which  has  its  origin  rather  in  the  warm 
emotions  of  the  heart,  than  the  cold  reason  of  the  head,  was  offensive  and 
distressing.  He  proceeded  to  elaborate  the  same  argument  made  l)y 
Mr.  Stevens  in  his  minority  report,  and  did  not  improve  it  at  all  by  his 
redundancy  of  words.  He  had  the  bad  taste,  too,  to  enter  largely  into 
Alabama  politics,  and  gave  details  of  matters  purely  local  in  their  nature. 
Tho  people  left  the  hall  by  hundreds ;  yet  he  spoke  on,  as  if  unconscious 
that  instead  of  captivating  the  multitudes  he  was  boring  them.  Cusbing 
became  uneasy,  nervous  and  fidgety.  Yancey  was  speaking  the  people 
out  of  the  hall,  and  using  up  all  the  time  with  Alabama  matters.  It 
had  been  intimated  that  Burnett  of  Kentucky  should  respond  to  tho 
nomination  of  John  C.  Breckenridge,  but  now  there  was  no  time  for 
Burnett.  Yancey  was  interrupted  once,  delicately  as  possible,  to  attend 
to  some  necessary  business,  but  he  could  not  or  would  not  take  the  hint, 
but  resuming,  talked  on  and  on — most  injudiciously  irritating  the  nerves 
of  tho  people,  and  tampering  with  the  patience  of  all  who  would  have 
been  glad  to  have  heard  all  he  had  to  say  on  another  occasion.  He  was 
doing  another  thing  that  was  undesirable.  By  talking  so  loud  and  long 
then  and  there,  and  putting  himself  and  Alabama  so  prominently  for- 


227 

ward,  he  was  identifying  his  name,  and  the  ultraism  of  Alabama,  too 
intimately  and  conspicuously  with  the  movement  represented  in  that 
hall.  When  he  concluded  it  was  evident  that  there  would  not  be  any 
more  speech  making.  If  the  eloquence  of  Yancey  had  become  a  weari- 
ness, who  should  dare  propose  to  stand  up  before  the  jaded  crowd, 
sick,  as  all  were,  of  the  very  sound  of  the  human  voice. 

Mr.  Avery  of  North  Carolina  offered  a  resolution  of  thanks  to  Mr. 
Gushing,  who,  on  rising  to  acknowledge  the  compliment,  was  received 
with  extravagant  applause.     He  said  : 

Gentlemen  of  the  Convention — I  beg  you  to  accept  the  expression  of 
my  heartfelt  acknowledgment  of  your  thanks.  I  do  not  intend  to 
say  any  thing  more,  except  to  congratulate  you  upon  the  most  felicitous 
termination  of  your  labors,  both  in  the  adoption  of  platform,  and  in  the 
nomination  of  your  candidates. 

A  motion,  by  Judge  Meek,  that  the  President  have  power  to  appoint 
committees,  was  adopted.  And  at  eleven  o'clock  the  Convention  ad- 
journed sine  die. 


THE  CONTEST  AT  BALTIMORE— THE  SPIRIT  OF  THE 

SPLIT. 

When  the  Seceders  appeared  at  Baltimore,  pursuant  to  the  jDrogramme 
of  the  Southern  Congressmen,  advertised  in  their  manifesto  and  perfect- 
ed at  Richmond,  the  contest  between  the  antagonisms  which  had  been 
fully  developed  at  Charleston,  resolved  itself  into  a  simple  one  on  cre- 
dentials, between  the  original  Charleston  delegates,  and  the  delegations 
from  several  States,  provided  to  fill  up  the  gaps  caused  by  secession,  with 
the  deciding  vote  in  the  hand  of  Dean  Richmond,  chairman  of  the  New 
York  delegation.  Richmond  &  Co.,  while  able  to  say  whether  the  Con- 
vention should  be  consolidated  by  admitting  the  original  Southern  dele- 
gates, or  disrupted  by  excluding  the  seceders,  could  not  say,  in  case  of 
consolidation,  who  should  be  the  nominee.  The  friends  of  Douglas  were 
without  confidence  in  Richmond  ("  the  Dean"),  and  were  only  pre- 
vented from  denouncing  him,  by  the  appreciation  of  their  dependence 
upon  him.  If  he  slaughtered  Douglas,  they  had  the  power  and  the  will 
to  slaughter  his  man,  and  would  have  prevented  the  nomination  of  any 
candidate 'for  whom  he,  in  connection  with  the  South,  might  have  thrown 
his  influence.  Hence  the  hesitation  of  New  York — her  long  consulta- 
tions— her  vascillation,  and  retrograde  movements.  She  struggled  for  a 
compromise,  but  both  sides  were  so  fierce  that  compromising  was  out  of 
the  question.  The  Southerners  thought  they  had  compromised  enough  in 
coming  to  Baltimore,  and  condescending  to  ask  admission  into  the  Con- 
vention from  which  they  had  seceded.  The  friends  of  Douglas  could 
not  be  expected  to  throw  away  the  last  chance  for  their  candidate,  by 
making  up  the  Convention,  so  far  as  possible,  out  of  its  original  materials. 
Such  a  compromise  as  that  would  have  been,  not  a  capitulation,  but  a 
surrender  at  discretion.  They  did,  at  the  solicitation,  indeed  the  dicta- 
torial demand  of  New  York,  back  out  from  two  propositions,  and  were 


228 

sorry  for  it  afterward.  They  had  taken  the  ground  that  no  delegate 
accredited  to  the  Richmond  Convention,  should  be  allowed  to  enter  that 
at  Baltimore.  They  were  drawn  from  this  point  Ijy  the  strong  case  of 
Mississippi.  They  had  also  declared  the  necessity  of  a  pled^^e  or  under- 
standing, that  all  delegates  entering  the  Convention,  should  make  or 
a.ssent  to,  to  the  effect  that  they  would  support  the  nominees  of  the  Con- 
vention. After  urging  this  for  a  few  hours,  and  observing  the  explosive 
excitement  engendered  by  it,  they  withdrew  it.  They  also,  or  rather 
New  York,  succumbed  respecting  their  delegation  from  Georgia.  Yet 
it  was  impossible  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  the  South  and  preserve  the 
unity  of  the  Convention,  without  passing  under  the  yoke  of  Yancey,  and 
they  could  not  consent  to  that  humiliation. 

The  friends  of  Mr.  Douglas  finding  their  boasted  availability  in  can- 
didate and  platform  rej)udiated,  and  themselves  treated  as  "  property," 
rather  than  Sovereign,  became  infuriated.  They  were  animated  by  pas- 
sions whoso  force  is  terrible.  There  was  in  the  first  place  an  unappeas- 
able hungering  for  the  .'Spoils,  common,  I  suppo.se,  to  all  politicians. 
They  had  long  been  placed  on  short  allowance.  In  yielding  to  the  de- 
mands of  the  South,  and  following  their  leaders  ambitious  of  national 
eminence,  they  had  been  deserted  by  the  greater  portion  of  the  people 
of  their  own  localities.  They  had  long  been  stung  by  the  taunts  of 
their  llepublican  neighbors,  that  they  were  serfs  of  Southern  masters, 
and  in  the  new  demands  and  arrogant  intolerance  of  the  South,  they 
felt  that  they  were  regarded  as  inferiors,  and  treated  accordingly.  They 
had  assumed  that  the  South  was  under  obligations  to  them  for  fighting 
battles  for  Slavery,  and  were  exasperated  upon  discovering  that  no  such 
obligation  was  recognized  as  having  existence.  They  found,  in  short, 
that  they  could  not  be  "  sound  "  on  the  slavery  question,  without  yield- 
ing up  their  most  profound  convictions,  and  all  manly  instincts.  They 
were  prepared  to  say  that  slavery  should  be  tolerated — they  could  even 
go  so  far  as  to  say  that  they  did  not  care  whether  it  was  voted  up  or 
down — in  or  out  of  a  Territory — but  they  were  not  willing  to  vote  it 
up,  and  glorify  it  as  a  good  thing,  and  especially  acknowledge  its  politi- 
cal pre-eminence.  And  behind  all  this,  they  represented  the  purposes 
of  Mr.  Douglas,  and  had  taken  up  his  quarrel  with  the  Lecompton  wing 
of  the  party,  and  it  became  their  fixed  resolution  to  u.^e  every  atom  of 
power  they  could  acquire,  to  vindicate  the  position  of  Mr.  Douglas  and 
his  regularity  in  the  party,  and  if  possible,  to  assert  by  authority  his 
control  over  the  organization. 

They  proceeded  to  Baltimore  in  a  state  of  stimulated  enthusiasm,  and 
partial  blindness.  They  did  not  know  the  power  and  desperatiort  of  the 
South,  and  were  foolish  enough  to  believe  the  opposition  to  tliem  in  that 
quarter  would  quietly  subside.  They  were,  however,  met  in  a  spirit 
more  intolerant  than  their  own.  A  irginia,  upon  wliom  they  bad  de- 
pended to  give  Douglas  the  nomination,  in  the  spirit  of  harmony  a>id 
according  to  Democratic  usages,  was  the  first  to  make  threats,  and 
finally  led  the  seceding  column — the  mother  of  Democracy  thus  becom- 
ing chief  of  the  seceders. 

The  appearance  of  the  Seceders  at  Baltimore,  and  their  evident  pur 
pose  and  power  to  control  the  Convention  or  destroy  it,  jiroduced   ex 


229 

tremely  hostile  feeling  on  the  part  of  the  North-west.  The  immediate 
friends  of  Douglas  became  rancorous.  Their  temper  was  not  improved 
by  the  fact  that  in  the  most  conspicuous  case,  and  on  the  vital  point, 
they  were  manifestly  worsted  in  argument.  The  report  of  Mr.  Ste- 
vens of  Oregon  from  the  committee  on  Credentials,  displays  the  strength, 
according  to  the  usage  of  the  party,  of  the  case  of  the  seceders.  There 
was  no  way  of  proceeding  to  business,  which  to  them  had  a  single  point — 
the  nomination  of  Douglas — but  to  blow  up  the  Convention.  If  a  sin- 
gle one  of  the  Douglas  delegations  from  the  Gulf  States  should  be  ad- 
mitted, the  explosion  would  take  place  just  as  if  all  were  admitted. 
The  compromising  and  trading  New  Yorkers  found  an  absence  of  avail- 
able material  for  obtaining  advantages  in  political  stock  gambling. 
They  were  alternately  bulls  tossing  up  the  Douglas  stock  and  bears 
tearing  it  down,  and  yet,  through  all  the  fluctuations,  they  were  unable 
to  make  a  sale  or  a  purchase  on  which  any  thing  could  be  realized. 
The  North-west  was  as  determined  and  impracticable  regarding  one 
scheme  as  the  South  was  regarding  another.  The  Democracy  of  the 
North-west  rose  out  of  the  status  of  serfdom.  There  was  servile  in- 
surrection, with  attendant  horrors,  and  Baltimore  became  a  political  St. 
Domingo. 

The  South  was  amazed  to  hear  its  favorite  threat  of  secession  despised 
and  hooted  at.  The  seceders  were  sneeringly  asked  why  they  came 
back  ?  and  told  that  they  had  no  business  there — that  Richmond  was 
the  place  for  them.  Yancey  had  said  it  would  be  dishonorable  for  se- 
ceders to  sneak  back  and  beg  to  be  allowed  to  re-enter  the  Convention. 
Now,  why  were  they  sneaking  back  V  What  had  they  done  with  their 
honor  ?  The  double-headed  mass-meetings  held  every  night  for  a  week, 
constantly  inflamed  every  antagonism  within  the  party.  Every  old  fe- 
verish sore  was  rent  open  by  speakers  from  one  stump  or  the  other,  and 
the  want  of  unity  in  the  party  was  so  manifest  that  feeble  etibrts  to 
make  speeches  in  the  old  time  strain  of  "conciliation,  harmony,  every 
thing  for  the  man,  nothing  for  the  principle,"  were  received  with  deris- 
ion and  remarks  abundantly  garnished  with  profanity,  that  there  was  no 
occasion  for  that  sort  of  twaddle. 

Just  in  the  crisis  of  the  Convention  Mr.  Douglas  lost  his  nerve,  and 
wrote  by  mail  and  telegraph  to  his  most  confidential  and  influential 
friends,  beseeching  them  to  save  the  party,  if  it  could  be  done  by  with- 
drawing his  name  from  the  contest.  It  was  too  late,  however.  He  was 
the  implement  of  a  revolution,  and  it  was  necessary  that  he  should  be 
used.  He  had  raised  a  greater  tempest  than  he  had  imagined.  He 
had  stirred  up  the  storm  but  could  not  control  the  whirlwind. 

After  the  Conventions,  the  feeling  between  the  people  of  the  Theatre 
and  those  of  the  Institute  was  so  fiercely  belligerant,  that  they  could 
not  talk  in  good  humor.  The  fact  that  a  family  quarrel  is  of  the  most 
remorseless  character,  was  manifest  in  the  conversation  of  every  group 
of  tea  persons  to  be  seen  on  the  streets  or  about  the  hotels.  Each  fac- 
tion accused  the  other  in  the  most  harsh  terms,  of  being  factionists,  bolt- 
ers, traitors,  incendiaries,  etc.,  etc. — epithets  conveying  imputations 
offensive,  in  a  political  sense,  being  exhausted  in  vain  efforts  on  both 
sides  to  do  justice  to  the  subject. 


230 

The  North-western  delegates,  on  their  return  home,  congratulated 
themselves  upon  the  presumption,  that  if  they  had  ripped  up  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  they  had  shown  the  Republicans  that  tliey,  as  Democrats, 
were  not  doughfaces.  The  reflection  that  they  were  no  more  to  be 
reproached  as  serfs  of  the  South,  seemed  sweet  and  ample  consolation 
for  all  the  struggles  and  perils  through  which  tliey  had  passed,  and  the 
pangs  they  had  suffered  in  the  dissolution  of  the  party.  They  talked  all 
the  way  over  the  mountains  to  this  effect :  "  Well,  there  is  one  thing  of 
which  we  can't  be  accused  any  more.  There  was  not  a  doughface 
shown  in  the  North-west."  The  fact  is  the  South  was  never  before  quite 
so  well  matched  in  her  own  game  of  brag  and  intolerable  arrogance. 
They  never  before  met  in  Convention  face  to  face,  with  oath  to  oath,  and 
menace  for  menace,  and  told  with  as  much  vehemence  as  they  threaten- 
ed to  secede,  that  they  might  "do  it  and  be  d — d." 

I  shared  a  railroad  seat,  when  crossing  the  mountains,  with  a  North- 
western delegate,  one  of  the  most  zealous  of  the  partisans  of  Douglas. 
He  was  in  a  bad  humor  with  the  South.  I  asked  what  was  the  matter. 
He  said:  "  I  have  been  vexed.  After  all  the  battles  we  have  fought 
for  the  South — to  be  served  in  this  manner — it  is  ungrateful  and  mean." 

He  wanted  the  South  to  be  made  sweat  under  an  Abolition  President. 
He  was  glad  Seward  was  not  the  Republican  candidate,  for  he  would 
be  too  easy  on  the  South.  He  hoped  Lincoln  would  make  them  sweat. 
The  Southerners  had  been  ruling  over  niggers  so  long  they  thought  they 
could  rule  white  men  just  the  same.  The  South  should  not  go  out  of 
the  Union  either.  The  would  stay  in  and  sweat.  The  fugitive  slaves 
might  go  to  Canada  or  to  the  devil  in  welcome,  and  their  masters  after 
them.  He  never  would  trouble  his  head  about  them  any  more.  He 
did  not  care  whether  the  Fugitive  Slave  law  was  enforced  or  not.  He 
declared  the  South  had  alienated  her  best  friends  forever,  and  must  now 
do  the  best  she  could  for  herself.  He  was  also  disposed  to  disparage 
the  Southern  country,  depreciate  the  resources  of  the  South,  and  mag- 
nify the  evils  that  beset  her. 

And  this  conversation,  I  am  convinced,  represents  the  feeling  with 
which  the  North-western  delegates  crossed  the  mountains  returning 
home.  The  extent  and  bearings  of  the  political  revolution,  of  which 
this  is  one  of  the  indications,  may  be  further  illustrated  from  the  bar- 
room talk  at  Baltimore.  One  delegate  from  Indiana  was  happy  to  tell 
the  Scceders  that  the  valley  of  the  Wabash  was  worth  more  than  all  the 
country  between  the  Potomac  and  the  Rio  Grande,  niggers  included. 
And  then  an  Ohioan  boasted  that  there  was  "  one  town  in  a  corner  of 
Ohio,  called  Cincinnati,  worth  more  than  the  whole  d — d  State  of  Ala- 
bama. Another  assured  the  Scceders  that  he  thought  more  of  Black 
Republicans  than  of  such  fellows  as  they  were,  and  that  if  there  was  to 
be  a  fight  between  sections,  ho  was  for  his  own  side  of  the  Ohio. 


231 


THE  SECOND  RICHMOND  CONVENTION. 


During  the  session  of  the  Baltimore  Convention,  the  South  Carolina 
delegates  remained  at  Richmond,  and  after  the  21st,  the  day  to  which 
they  had  adjourned,  they  adjourned  from  day  to  day. 

On  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  the  26th,  a  number  of  the  Southern 
delegates  were  in  the  city,  among  others,  Messrs.  Scott  and  Yancey  of 
Alabama,  and  the  Convention  assembled  in  Metropolitan  Hall.  Col. 
Irwin,  the  President,  called  the  Convention  to  order. 

Mr.  Middleton  of  South  Carolina  made  a  report  from  the  committee 
on  Credentials  on  the  New  York  case  (the  New  York  Commissioners). 
The  committee  found  that  those  commissioners  had  been  "duly  elected 
as  delegates  from  the  third,  fourth,  fifth,  sixth,  seventh  and  eighth  Con- 
gressional Districts  of  New  York  to  the  Richmond  Convention." 

After  some  discussion  the  whole  matter  was  laid  on  the  table  by  the 
following  vote  : 

Ayes — Virginia  I,  South  Carolina  7^,  Florida  3,  Alabama  9,  Mis- 
sissippi 7 — 27. 

Noes — North  Carolina  -J-,  South  Carolina  -J-,  Georgia  10,  Louisiana 
G,  Texas  4—21. 

Mr.  Dargam  of  South  Carolina  then  offered  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  this  Convention  approve  of  the  Platform  of  Principles  recom- 
mended by  the  majority  report  at  the  Charlostoa  Couveation. 

The  question  was  put,  and  the  resolution  was  adopted  unanimously, 
amid  loud  cheering. 

Mr.  Furman  of  South  Carolina,  on  behalf  of  his  delegation,  offered 
the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  John  C.  Breckenridge  of  Kentncky,  and  Joseph  Lane  of  Oregon, 
are,  and  they  arc  hereby  declared  to  be  the  choice,  nnaniniously,  of  this  Conven- 
tion, for  President  and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 

There  were  a  few  votes  of  thanks,  as  usual  on  such  occasions,  and 
the  Convention  adjourned  sine  die. 

The  Richmond  Enquirer  says  : 

'*  The  galleries  during  the  session  were  thronged,  and  whilst  there  was 
great  enthusiasm,  there  was  no  one  occasion,  in  the  slightest  degree,  to 
disturb  good  order.  All  the  proceedings  were  conducted  with  a  calm- 
ness, dignity  and  decorum  which  we  have  never  seen  excelled." 


2:^2 


The  lesson  to  the  Nation  of  the  Presidential  Caucuses  of  18G0 
is  the  necessity  for  the  abolition  of  the  Caucus  System,  which,  in 
whatever  party  organization  operative,  is  a  system  of  swindling,  by 
which  the  people  are  defrauded  out  of  the  effective  exercise  of  the  right 
of  suffrage.  There  is  no  honesty  in  caucuses,  no  sound  principle  or 
good  policy,  except  by  accident ;  and  the  accidents  that  furnish  the 
fxception  are  rare  indeed. 

The  revenues  of  King  Caucus  are  corruption  funds — and  his  gov- 
ernment costs  the  country  at  least  fifty  million  dollars  annually — his 
platforms  of  principles  are  elaborations  of  false  pretenses — his  nominees 
are  his  obsequious  viceroys — and  he  is  the  power  behind  the  chairs  of 
our  chief  magistrates,  and  under  the  tables  of  our  cabinets,  far  more 
potent  than  those  who  visibly  assume  authority. 

If  a  llepublican  form  of  government  is  to  be  preserved  in  our  con- 
federacy, the  people  must  make  a  bonfire  of  his  throne. 


The  ofl&cial  reports  from  which  this  compilation  has  been  largely 
made  up,  appeared  in  the  following  journals :  The  Mercury  and  the 
Courier  of  Charleston  ;  the  Press  and  Tribune  of  Chicago  ;  the  ]Jalti- 
more  Clipper  (for  the  "  Constitutional  Union  "  Convention);  the  Balti- 
more American  and  Sun,  for  the  National  Democratic  Conventions  ; 
and  the  Richmond  Enquirer  for  the  Convention  held  in  that  city. 


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